[Role of magnesium and calcium ions in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma].

Nuclear absorption spectrophotometry (ACC-508, Hitachi, Japan) and selective ionometry (Microlyte, Kone, Finland) were used to measure Mg and Ca concentrations in the serum, red cells, lymphocytes and 24-h urine of 26 patients with atopic and 23 patients with bacterial bronchial asthma (BA) aged 15-65. Irrespective of BA variant, phase, severity and bronchial obstruction, the blood of the examinees contained insufficient quantities of Mg and excessive ones of Ca. 24-h urinary excretion of Mg was subnormal. BA-specific changes in cell electrolyte composition impair cAMP metabolism and activate lipid peroxidation. This results in emergence of bronchial hyperreactivity. It is suggested that abnormal intracellular homeostasis of bivalent cations in BA patients may be due to hyperactivation of free-radical oxidation of cell membrane lipids.