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Serum and tissue magnesium concentrations in patients with heart failure and serious ventricular arrhythmias
M A Ralston1, M R Murnane, D V Unverferth
1Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus.
Insights
Magnesium levels in serum and tissue were similar in heart failure patients with and without ventricular arrhythmias. This study found no evidence of magnesium depletion being more common in patients experiencing arrhythmias.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Heart failure is associated with various complications, including arrhythmias.
- Magnesium plays a crucial role in cardiac function and electrical stability.
- Previous research suggests a potential link between magnesium levels and ventricular arrhythmias in heart failure patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare serum and tissue magnesium concentrations.
- To determine if magnesium depletion is more prevalent in heart failure patients with serious ventricular arrhythmias compared to those without.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 23 patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.
- Patients were divided into two groups: those with sustained ventricular tachycardias (n=9) and a control group without serious ventricular arrhythmias (n=14).
- Magnesium concentrations were analyzed in serum, skeletal muscle, and myocardial tissue via biopsies and blood sampling.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences were observed in mean magnesium concentrations.
- Serum, mononuclear cell, skeletal muscle, and myocardial tissue magnesium levels were comparable between the arrhythmia and control groups.
- The findings did not support a higher incidence of magnesium depletion in heart failure patients with ventricular arrhythmias.
Conclusions:
- Magnesium depletion does not appear to be a common distinguishing factor.
- In ambulatory heart failure patients, serum and tissue magnesium levels are similar regardless of the presence of serious ventricular arrhythmias.
- Further research may explore other potential contributing factors to arrhythmias in heart failure.
Objective:
To compare magnesium concentrations in serum and tissue from patients with heart failure. Two groups of patients were compared, those with or without serious ventricular arrhythmias.
Design:
Consecutive enrollment. Blinded laboratory analyses.
Setting:
Referral inpatient service of the cardiology division of a university hospital.
Patients:
Twenty-three patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and mild to moderately severe congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association functional class II to IV) were divided into two groups: 9 patients with sustained ventricular tachycardias and 14 patients without serious ventricular arrhythmias (control).
Interventions:
Medications for heart failure were withdrawn 12 hours or more before study. Antiarrhythmic therapy was continued throughout the study.
Measurements And Main Results:
The patients had skeletal muscle biopsies, myocardial biopsies, and blood sampling for the analysis of magnesium concentrations. No statistically significant differences in the mean magnesium concentrations in serum, circulating mononuclear cells, skeletal muscle, and myocardium were found when the 9 patients with ventricular arrhythmias were compared with the 14 control patients without serious ventricular arrhythmias.
Conclusions:
In a general, ambulatory sample of patients with heart failure, magnesium depletion in serum and tissue does not appear to occur more commonly in patients with serious ventricular arrhythmias than in patients without serious ventricular arrhythmias.