Measurement of Plasma Magnesium Level in Sudanese Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

Abstract

Chronic renal failure is one of diseases that may cause mortality. Patients with chronic renal failure requires certain laboratory investigations including for example: urea, creatinine and electrolytes. Magnesium is one of the electrolytes that may be of importance in the management of these conditions and may help the nephrologists for treatment and follow up. This case-control and cross-sectional study was carried out at renal unit of Omdurman military hospital in Khartoum state, to measure the plasma magnesium level in Sudanese's patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) during the period from November 2009 to march 2010. Forty patients with CRF (pathological group) and 40 apparently healthy individuals as (control group) were included in this study. Results showed that there was a significant difference between the means of plasma magnesium levels of the patients group (n=40) and the control group (n=40). Mean ± SD: (0.974±0.172) versus (0.763±0.129) mmol/l, (P= 0.00) Results showed that there was no significant difference between the means of plasma magnesium levels of the males (n=27) and the females (n=13) in the patients group. Mean ± SD: (1.0±0.14) versus (0.92±0.22) mmol/l, (P= 0.18) Results showed that there was no significant difference between the means of plasma magnesium levels of the males (n=26) and the females (n=14) in the control group. Mean ± SD: (0.75±0.12) versus (0.79±0.14) mmol/l, (P= 0.37) Results showed that there was a significant difference between the means of plasma magnesium levels of the patients males group (n=27) and the control males group (n=26). Mean ± SD: (1.0±0.14) versus (0.75±0.12) mmol/l, (P= 0.00) Results showed that there was no significant difference between the means of plasma magnesium levels of the patients females group (n=13) and the control females group (n=14). Mean ± SD: (0.92±0.22) versus (0.79±0.14) mmol/l, (P= 0.07) In conclusion this study found that Plasma magnesium level was found to be significantly increased in chronic renal failure and the change in plasma magnesium level was not affected by gender.