A biochemical study of Huntington's chorea

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Abstract
Mg and Ca levels were determined in serum and cell samples from 20 patients with Huntington''s chorea. The average age was 51 years and the average length of history, 8.6 years. A control group of 20 schizophrenic patients was studied for comparison. The average erythrocyte Mg value for all Huntington patients was 8.87[plus or minus]1.84 mEq/L., not differing significantly from the schizophrenic control value of 5.17[plus or minus]0.43 mEq/L. In the Huntington subgroups, those with a positive family history averaged 6.77[plus or minus]1.73 mEq/L. and those with a negative family history, 13.47[plus or minus]6.01 mEq/L. This again is not a significant difference. The average erythrocyte calcium for all Huntington patients was 1.55[plus or minus]0.32 mEq/L. which is significantly higher than the control value of 0.27[plus or minus]0.22 mEq/L. There was no significant difference in erythrocyte Ca between the Huntington subgroups with positive and negative family histories. The raised intracellular levels of Ca and Mg in patients with Huntington''s chorea may influence the patterns of energy metabolism in such a way that the rate of exchange of high energy phosphates may increase. This might cause the cortical changes resembling senility which characterizes the Neuropathology of Huntington''s chorea.