Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of magnesium in epileptic children.

In order to discriminate between conflicting reports in the literature, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid magnesium levels from epileptic children were compared with those of control children. To exclude the possibility of methodological artifacts, two methods for Mg determination were used: atomic absorption spectrophotometry and a colorimetric procedure. By both methods a significantly decreased concentration of Mg in plasma was found in epileptics.