[The role of disorders in the homeostasis of divalent cations in the pathogenesis and clinical picture of bronchial asthma].

Mg and Ca concentrations in the serum, red cells, lymphocytes and 24-h urine were examined in 13 preasthma (PA) patients, 26 atopic asthma patients and 23 bacterial asthma (BA) patients. The patients' age ranged from 15 to 65 years. The measurements were made on AAC-508 absorption spectrophotometer (Hitachi, Japan) and Microlyte selective ionometer (Kone, Finland). Lack of Mg and excess of Ca in blood cells and low Mg values in circadian urine were recorded in all the patients irrespective of the disease variant, phase, course, broncho-obstruction. Changes in cell electrolyte composition in asthma and PA patients seem to disturb cAMP metabolism and to enhance lipid peroxidation, thus being responsible for bronchial hyperreactivity. Superactivation of free-radical lipid peroxidation in cellular membranes is suggested to underlie, among other factors, defective intracellular homeostasis of bivalent cations in the above patients.