Abstract

SERUM MAGNESIUM LEVELS IN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Dr. Sunanda Amonkar, Dr. Lavita D’costa* and Dr. Chitra Y. Dhume

Abstract

It has long been known that for normal growth and function inorganic salts must be supplied to all biological forms. In the human body there is a tendency to maintain the proper fluid balance, not only as a whole but between the three compartments of intracellular, interstitial and intravascular spaces. This is maintained by an intricate play of hemodynamic, electrolyte and other forces. The field of mineral metabolism is at present in a phase of rapid expansion. It has become apparent that not only proteins, fats and carbohydrates, but also minerals are essential to life. Now the significance of traces not only of vitamins and other active organic substances, but also of minerals is under intensive investigation. In this cross sectional study, the mean serum Magnesium level on day 1 in all 50 patients was 1.86 meq/L (+/- 0.42) and the mean serum Magnesium level on day 5 was 2.26 meq/L (+/- 0.5) and the mean serum Magnesium level in 26 patients with arrhythmias was 1.738 meq/L on day 1 and 2.145 meq/L on day 5. In this study group, mean serum Magnesium level in 24 patients without arrhythmias was 2.004 meq/L on day 1 and 2.390 meq/L on day 5. The difference between the serum Magnesium levels in patients with and without arrhythmias is statistically significant on day 1. The difference between mean serum magnesium levels in patients who expired was 1.43 meq/L and in patients who survived was 1.92 meq/L. Statistically it was significant.

Keywords: Myocardial infarction, serum Magnesium levels, arrhythmic and non arrhythmic groups, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.