TITLE:
Seric Calcium and Magnesium in Normal and Pre Eclamptic Pregnant Women: A Case-Control Study in Kinshasa, D R Congo
AUTHORS:
Pascal Ngoy Wakumilua, Donatien Kayembe Nzongola-Nkasu, Jean Pierre Elongi Moyene, Dophie Tshibuela Beya, Mamy Ngole Zita, Jeremie Muwonga Masidi, Mireille Nganga Nkanga, Guelord Mukiapini Luzolo, Daddy Kabamba Numbi
KEYWORDS:
Seric, Calcium, Magnesium, Preeclampsia, Kinshasa
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.8 No.4,
April
25,
2018
ABSTRACT: Goal: The present study aimed to determine the profile of
seric calcium and magnesium in pre-eclamptic and eclamptic pregnant women of Kinshasa province in
the Democratic Republic of Congo where preeclampsia is characterized not only by a high
incidence, but also by a seasonal variation probably related to nutritional
intake. Study Design: This is a case-control study that took place during
the period from September 2014 to March 2015 in four quaternary and tertiary
maternity hospitals in Kinshasa. A total of 113 healthy pregnant women
(controls) and 112 pre-eclamptic and eclamptic pregnant women (cases) were
included in this study. Seric calcium and magnesium were measured in all these gravidas by the principle of
spectrophotometry with a HUMALYSER Primus semi-automaton. Results: The mean age of those gravidas was 26.8 ± 6.3 years
(26.7 vs 26.9, p = 0.11). The
majority of these gravidas were primiparous. The mean gestational age in both
groups was 31.35 ± 0.9 weeks (32.1 vs 30.6, p = 0.21). The average seric calcium value was 4.47 ± 0.23 mEq /L in healthy
pregnant women compared to 3.80 ± 0.71 mEq/l in pre-eclamptics (P 0.001). The mean of seric magnesium was 1.56 ± 0.15
mg/dL in healthy pregnant women compared to 1.20 ± 0.41 mg/dL in pre eclamptics
(P 0.001). Seric calcium and magnesium values were low in
the pre-eclamptic group and lower in the eclamptic group (P 0.001). Conclusion: This study establishes a relationship between the
low concentration of seric calcium and magnesium with pre-eclampsia and
eclampsia, which could be one of the
determinants of the high prevalence and seasonality of the disease in
Kinshasa.