Serum calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamin D in benign essential blepharospasm.

PURPOSE: This study aims to compare serum calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and 25-hydroxy (OH)-vitamin D levels in patients with benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) and healthy subjects and to determine their association with disease severity and frequency.

METHODS: This is a prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital. Fifty patients (female, 39; male, 11) with BEB and 22 healthy subjects (female, 15; male, 7) included in the study. Serum calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamin D levels of BEB and healthy groups were measured. Blepharospasm severity and frequency were assessed using scales ranging from 0 to 4 by following the Jankovic Rating Scale (JRS).

RESULTS: Though there was no significant difference regarding magnesium, phosphorus, and 25(OH)-vitamin D levels between the two groups, serum calcium levels of the BEB group were significantly lower than the control group (9.5 ± 0.4 and 9.9 ± 0.4 mg/dl, respectively; P = 0.002), although in the normal range (9-10.5 mg/dl). In the BEB group, the mean Jankovic severity and frequency scores were 3.29 ± 0.54 and 3.59 ± 0.61, respectively. There was a moderate negative correlation between serum 25(OH)-vitamin D levels and Jankovic severity score (r = - 0.332; P = 0.022).

CONCLUSION: Serum calcium levels of the BEB group were significantly lower than the healthy group. Serum vitamin D levels showed a moderate negative correlation with disease severity. The role of calcium and vitamin D in the evolution of the BEB need further investigation at the cellular and anatomical levels.