Erythrocyte magnesium, copper and zinc in malignant diseases affecting the hemopoietic system

Abstract

Erythrocyte magnesium, copper and zinc and plasma magnesium were studied in a group of 47 patients in relapse with malignant disease affecting the hemopoietic system. The mean cell volume of the erythrocytes was slightly increased in 10% and moderately decreased in 25% of the cases. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were reduced in 60% of the patients; the most marked reduction was found in Hodgkin's disease. Erythrocyte magnesium was increased above the normal range in 53% of the patients with malignant disease. The average level of magnesium per cell and per μ3 of cell was increased in each of the conditions studied except acute leukemia. The mean plasma magnesium concentration was raised in chronic myeloid leukemia but the average values in the other diseases were within normal limits. Erythrocyte zinc was above the normal range in 30% of the patients. The average amount of zinc per cell and per μ3 of cell was increased in acute leukemia, chronic lymphatic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, Hodgkin's disease and in metastatic carcinoma. Erythrocyte copper was within normal limits except in Hodgkin's disease, in which average amount of copper per μ3 of cell was raised.