Magnesium and iron contents of leukemic lymphocytes in acute leukemias and hemolytic anemia.

In this study, magnesium and iron concentrations were measured in lymphocytes from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and hemolytic anemia (HA) before and after chemotherapy treatment. The results were compared with those of control subjects. Magnesium concentrations were significantly lower in the patient groups, compared with control values. However, no significant differences, except in the HA group, were found among magnesium concentration of the patient groups themselves. Iron level values were at physiological range in all groups. Similarly, no statistically significant differences were found between lymphocyte magnesium concentrations before and after chemotherapy treatment in the patient groups. Fe+3 values were higher in the ALL and HA groups with respect to the group before chemotherapy.