Clinical Significance of Low Serum Magnesium in Pregnant Women Attending the University of Benin Teaching Hospital

Objective: Magnesium level is known to decline during pregnancy. A suggested role for magnesium deficiency in conditions like pre-eclampsia and pre-term birth has prompted studies with conflicting evidence. The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypomagnesemia in pregnancy; while the secondary objectives attempted to define maternal and fetal outcome due to hypomagnesemia.Subjects and Methods: A pilot study was performed to determine the mean serum magnesium level for the population of female patients attending the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. The result of the pregnant population in the pilot study was used as a reference for hypomagnesemia in this study. Thereafter; a prospective cohort study of antenatal women recruited in the second trimester and followed-up till delivery and 1 week post-partum was done. Serum magnesium estimates were done with samples collected at recruitment and delivery. The magnesium levels determined at recruitment were used to divide the subjects into two groups of hypomagnesemic and normomagnesemic patients. Their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were used to generate a database for analysis.Results: The prevalence of magnesium deficiency was 16.25. Hypomagnesemia was significantly correlated with the occurrence of pre-eclampsia (P = 0.011); leg cramps (P = 0.000) and pre-term birth (P = 0.030). A logistic regression analysis showed that hypomagnesemia had an Odds ratio of 22 for pre-eclampsia. There was no maternal mortality or early neonatal death.Conclusion: Pre-eclampsia and pre-term birth are associated with hypomagnesemia in pregnancy; hence; magnesium supplementation or magnesium-rich diet consisting of green leafy vegetables; soy milk and legumes may improve outcome

Comparative Study of Intradermal Smear Microscopy in the Diagnosis of Malaria in Symptomatic Pregnant Women

Objectives: A comparative study of intradermal smear in the diagnosis of malaria in symptomatic pregnant women. Venous blood served as the control. Patients and methods : Fifty consecutive symptomatic pregnant women were recruited. Thick films of both venous and intradermal blood were examined. Questionnaires were used to determine patients' preference for the two techniques. Tests of statistical significance were done with Fisher exact and Yates correlation coefficient at 95confidence interval. Sensitivity specificity and accuracy rates were used to assess the validity of intradermal smear. Results: Intradermal smear more frequently diagnosed malaria parasitaemia than peripheral venous blood (66vs 56). This was statistically significant (P value: 0.0065). The sensitivity of intradermal smear was 85.7while the positive predictive value was 77.4. The accuracy rate was 76.7. The technique of intradermal blood collection was preferred by 28of women. Conclusion: Intradermal smear is useful in malaria diagnosis in pregnancy and may be an additional evaluation tool for persistent fever in pregnancy