Serum magnesium in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Biochemistry
• Vascular Medicine

Background:

• Magnesium (Mg) influences vascular health, with deficiency linked to vasoconstriction and atherosclerosis.
• The role of low serum Mg in the occurrence and progression of ischemic stroke remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate serum Mg levels in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
• To evaluate the association between serum Mg concentration and neurological deficit severity in early stroke stages.

Main Methods:

• Included forty acute ischemic stroke patients and twenty-one healthy controls.
• Serum Mg concentrations measured colorimetrically on a Hitachi 917 autoanalyzer.
• Neurological deficit assessed using the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at 24 and 48 hours post-stroke.

Main Results:

• Serum Mg levels were lower in stroke patients (1.39 +/- 0.213 mmol/L on admission, 1.47 +/- 0.181 mmol/L at 48 hours) compared to controls (1.66 +/- 0.138 mmol/L).
• A significant relationship was found between lower serum Mg at 48 hours and greater neurological deficit intensity (p < 0.05).
• Higher severity of paresis was observed in patients with low serum Mg levels.

Conclusions:

• Decreased serum Mg concentration at 48 hours post-ischemic stroke indicates injury severity.
• Serum Mg levels may impact the neurological status following ischemic stroke.
• Magnesium substitution therapy could be a potential treatment strategy for ischemic stroke patients.