1Department of General Medicine, SVS Medical College, Yenugonda, Mahabubnagar, A. P.
2Department of Community Medicine, SVS Medical College, Yenugonda, Mahabubnagar, A. P.
Online published on 23 January, 2014.
It is estimated that 3 to 5% of the population will have at least one seizure during their lifetime and that 5% have a significant problem with recurrent seizures1. Magnesium is required by over 300 chemical reactions in humans. (Shils ME. 1999) 2. Individuals with low cerebrospinal fluid levels of magnesium tend to have lower cerebrospinal fluid levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), a metabolite of serotonin, indicating lower central nervous system serotonin levels. (Banki CM. 1985 & Banki CM. 1986)3,4.
A number of 150 patients belonging to various diseases leading to convulsions were taken up for study along with 75 controls. Serum and C.S.F. levels of Magnesium were estimated and analyzed along other relevant investigations pertaining to the diagnosis of the respective cases.
A significantly low levels both in serum and CSF were observed in idiopathic epilepsy, eclampsia and meningitis groups. Other groups viz., Encephalitis group, febrile convulsions, and Hysteria groups did not show any significant changes.
Schizophrenic patients showed slightly low magnesium levels in serum and CSF but improved after E.C.T., but statistically insignificant.
Seizures, Magnesium, CSF, Convulsions etc.
