Open AccessMagnesium and the heart: Antiarrhythmic therapy with magnesium
Author(s) -
Fazekas Tamás,
Scherlag Benjamin J.,
Vos Marc,
Wellens Hein J. J.,
Lazzara Ralph
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960161105
Subject(s) - medicine , magnesium , digitalis toxicity , digitalis , tachycardia , long qt syndrome , ventricular tachycardia , qt interval , cardiology , depolarization , pharmacology , electrophysiology , anesthesia , heart failure , materials science , metallurgy
Magnesium is an essential transmembrane and intracellular modulator of the electrical activity of cardiac cells. This review provides an up‐to‐date consideration of the cellular and clinical electrophysiological role of magnesium. This ubiquitous element seems to be important from both the theoretical and clinical point of view, because magnesium salts (MgSO 4 , MgCl 2 ) administered intravenously are particularly effective in those arrhythmias in which the mechanism involves early or delayed afterdepolarization‐induced triggered activity. The authors share the view that I. V. magnesium is the drug of choice in “torsade de pointes” ventricular tachycardia accompanying acquired long QT/QTU syndrome. It is a complementary therapeutic agent in digitalis‐induced tachycardias. Further studies are needed to elucidate magnesium's mode of action and efficacy in other types of clinical tachyarrhythmias.