RESUMEN
Preterm labour, (PTL) defined as labour after 28 weeks but before 37 completed week of gestation, is an ill omen for our country as the incidence is 5-10% leading to 70-80% of perinatal deaths. Besides varied etiology, it may be due to alteration in basic biochemical functions of the body at cellular level stating emphasis to trace elements, of which magnesium, being one of them, is subject of interest now a days. Serum magnesium was estimated in fifty cases of Preterm labour of idiopathic etiology (28-37 wks), 35 normal pregnancy cases of the same gestational age and 15 normal non-pregnant ladies. Varied hypomagnesemia was observed in Preterm labour cases (1.47 mg/dl +/- 0.22 S.D.), normal value of serum magnesium was found in normal non-pregnant ladies and slightly low value were observed in pregnant ladies of same gestational age. Age and parity had no significant effect on serum magnesium level in our study. As far as socio-economic study is concerned, it was found to be higher in high socio-economic group and low in lower group. Thus from this study it can be concluded that estimation of serum magnesium in pregnancy may prove to be a valuable tool in predicting preterm onset of labour.