COMPLICATIONS OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCT ION IN A DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY WITH ORAL MAGNESIUM THERAPY

A double-blind placebo controlled study was carried out to give inform ations on the effectivity of an oral therapy with magnesium in patient s who had suffered from an acute myocardial infarction. 51 myocardial infarction patients - among them 17 women and 34 men - were included i n the studies. The myocardial infarction could be secured according to the criteria of WHO in anamnestic, laboratory-chemical and electrocar diographical aspects. The identification of the magnesium concentratio n in serum and whole blood was carried out by means of atomic absorpti on spectrophotometry after admission in hospital (first day), on the 2 nd, 3rd, 4th and 20th day as well as three months after the myocardial infarction. The change of magnesium concentration in relation to the initial value of the first day was used for analysis. A significant di fference of the magnesium content in serum and erythrocytes in favour of the verum group was established. The complications of the myocardia l infarction which were observed - like cardiac insufficiency, cardiac rhythmic troubles, reinfarction and death - were much more frequent w ith the placebo group in which the magnesium concentrations had droppe d continuously than in the verum group. The application of magnesium i n the acute phase as well as in the chronic phase after a myocardial i nfarction can be concluded.