Rattanatayarom W1, Udompataikul M2, Arayaskul S2, Classen A3, Classen HG4  

1 Dpt of Pharmacology
2 Skin Center Srinakharinwirot Univ.of Bangkok
3 Dpt of Dermatology, Univ. of Göttingen
4 Univ. of Hohenheim
 

Skin alterations related to inflammation following a state of acute or chronic hypomagnesemia are well documented in experimental rat models. Among diverse pathogenic factors, pro-inflammatory cytokines play a crucial role, also in contact dermatitis (CD) and atopic dermatitis (AD). With this in mind, serum-Mg was examined in controls and in patients with CD (diagnosed by physical examination and by patch test) and AD (diagnosed by Hanifin and Rajka`s criteria). There were n=30/per group, aged 26 to 39 years, the ratio of females to males being about 4:1. Patients on drugs or with diseases affecting Mg metabolism were excluded. The lower level of the reference range was set at >0.76 mmol Mg/L -- The frequency of hypomagnesemia was 0% in controls, 10% in CD and 16.7% in AD. Similar results were reported by TOYRAN et al. (J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2012; 22:341-44): 20.7% of 92 children with AD presented with hypomagnesemia. – Due to the Mg-wasting effect of antitumor agents and extracorporal photophoresis Mg gains increasing interest in dermatology: In 2013 and 2014, serum Mg was determined in 241 and 285 patients in Göttingen; 34.9%, resp. 35.1% presented with hypomagnesemia. In view of the presented data, AD-patients should also be routinely checked for lowered Mg levels as candidates for supplementation studies.