The aim of this paper is to describe and discuss, on the basis of the available 
literature, the case of an old female patient, admitted to our university 
hospital because of a severe dysphagia for solid foods, in whom laboratory data 
showed a marked hypomagnesemia. She reported a long history (20 years) of 
allergic bronchial asthma treated with theophylline. Esophagography evidenced a 
disorder of esophagus motility with diffuse multiple spasm, reminiscent of the 
'corkscrew esophagus'. A link with the severe hypomagnesemia (Mg 1.1 mEq/l, 
normal range 1.6-2.1) was suspected, and a therapy with oral pidolate of Mg (1.5 
g/twice a day) was started and continued for 4 months. This was associated with 
a slow progressive normalization of the Mg plasma level and reverted 
radiographic esophageal findings with disappearance of dysphagia. Mg is an 
important element for health and disease, and today Mg deficiency in man has 
become an accepted medical problem which might complicate many diseases. 
Neuromuscular disorders, as laryngeal spasm, are recognized complications of 
hypomagnesemia, but until now only 1 case of motor esophageal disorder 
associated with a low Mg plasma level was briefly reported in the literature, 
even if dysphagia is generally included in the symptomatological pattern of 
hypomagnesemia. Our observation of a severe form of esophageal spasm, associated 
with hypomagnesemia, in an aged female patient underlines the pathophysiological 
meaning of the plasma Mg level and suggests the need for routine Mg 
determination in the clinical setting.