EFFECT OF INTRAVENOUS MAGNESIUM INFUSION ON GLOBAL LEFT-VENTRICULAR SYSTOLIC FUNCTION AND CLINICAL SIGNS OF HEART-FAILURE IN HIGH-RISK PATIENTS WITH SUSPECTED ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFRACTION - A DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY

This double blind placebo-controlled study was conducted in order to e lucidate the effect of magnesium infusion on global left ventricular s ystolic function evaluated by two-dimensional echocardiography and cli nical signs of heart failure in patients with suspected acute myocardi al infarction. 114 patients with acute ischemic changes on entry ECG w ere randomized within 12 hours after pain onset (median - 4,9 hours) t o magnesium sulphate (10,4 mmol bolus followed by 72,9 mmol infusion f or a median time of 23.9 hours) (n=56), or placebo (n=58), Overall ass essment of patients clinical condition was obviously worse than in the ISIS-4 trial, There was no difference between groups in left ventricu lar size and ejection fraction on days 2 - 4 and 17 - 30 (median 24) a fter randomization, No difference was also found between groups In cli nical signs of heart; failure during hospitalization. Mortality rate w as not affected by magnesium infusion and was high in both groups, Res ults of the present study do not support point of view that magnesium infusion in acute myocardial infarction can positively affect mortalit y by improvement of myocardial function.