EFFECT OF TREATMENT WITH MAGNESIUM AND POTASSIUM ON MORTALITY AND REINFARCTION RATE OF PATIENTS WITH SUSPECTED ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

.The aim of the study was to test whether magnesium and potassium admi nistration can decrease both early and late cardiac event rates in 355 patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The study was conducted by a primary and secondary care research centre as a ran domized, intially double-blind comparison for 4 weeks followed by a si ngle blind period for 2 years. Patients with definite or possible AMI and unstable angina based on World Health Organization criteria were a ssigned within 24 hours of infarction to different groups. Treatment w as administered for 3 days through intravenous infusion with either 8. 12 mmol/day Mg (group A, n = 81), 10.49 mmol/day K (group B, n = 77) 1 0% dextrose solution (group C, n = 87) or a placebo containing 2% dext rose solution (group D, n = 81). After discharge from the hospital all groups were advised to follow a fat-reduced diet. Groups A, B, and C were also advised to take magnesium hydroxide or potassium chloride or ally. Comparison of groups A and B with group D over 2 years indicated that treatment with magnesium or potassium was associated with increa sed (p < 0.05) serum magnesium and potassium, and significant reductio n in the incidence of cardiac events (22 and 24 vs 41 patients), total mortality (9 and 10 vs 20 deaths), and ventricular ectopics (17 and 2 1 vs 44), respectively, in the groups, Group C showed no significant b enefit. It is possible that magnesium and potassium infusion immediate ly after AMI and addition of Mg and K salts to the AMI regimen may enh ance tissue levels of these cations, leading to significant reduction in complications and mortality after 2 years.