PRETERM LABOUR

SERUM MAGNESIUM LEVELS

Abstract

Background: Spontaneous preterm labor that is labor before 37 weeks of
gestation is the main cause of preterm delivery. With increasing gestation the level of Serum
magnesium levels decreases. Magnesium inhibits uterine contractions by antagonizing calcium.
Hypomagnesaemia also causes hyper excitability of neuromuscular junction bringing in muscle
cramps and uterine hyperactivity. Objectives: To determine the mean serum magnesium levels
in women presenting with preterm labor. Study Design: Cross Sectional Study. Location and
duration of study: Ziauddin University Hospitals, Karachi from 8th December 2015 to 7th June
2016. Methodology: Total 40 women of age 18-40 years having singleton pregnancy between
28-36 weeks gestation with established preterm labor having cervical dilatation less than 3cm.
were included. 5ml blood was collected and analyzed. Outcome in terms of Mean Standard
Deviation were noted. Descriptive statistics were applied. Stratification was done using student
t-test and ANOVA where appropriate. The p-value ≤0.05 was considered as significant. Results:
The mean age was 26.25±2.38 years. Mean gestational age was 32.77±2.11 weeks. Mean
cervical dilatation was 1.85±0.39 cm. Mean serum magnesium level was found 1.43±0.25 mg/
dl. The results showed that there was significant difference in mean serum magnesium level for
gestational age but not significant for age, cervical dilatation, parity and gravida. Conclusion:
The results showed that serum magnesium level reduced with increased gestational age.
Preterm labor can be predicted by serum magnesium levels.