Can magnesium sulfate prophylaxis reduce colistin nephrotoxicity?

The study aimed to investigate the role of magnesium sulfate prophylaxis in nephrotoxicity caused by colistin. Thirty Wistar Albino rats were divided into four groups: control, colistin, magnesium (Mg), and Mg+colistin. The drugs were administered to the groups for seven days. Urea-creatinine values were measured at the beginning (T0) and end (T1) of the study. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in plasma and kidney tissue, glutathione (GSH) levels were analyzed in the erythrocyte and kidney tissues. At the end of the study, the semiquantitative score (SQS) was calculated by the histopathological examination of the kidneys. Urea values significantly decreased in Mg and Mg+colistin groups compared to the baseline (p=0.013 and p=0.001). At the time of T1, these groups had significantly lower urea values than the colistin and control groups. Creatinine value was significantly increased in the colistin group compared to baseline (p=0.005), the creatinine value in the colistin group was significantly higher than the Mg+colistin group (p=0.011). Plasma MDA levels were significantly higher in the colistin group compared to the other groups at the time of T1 (p<0.001). The Mg+colistin group had lower renal MDA levels than the colistin group. The colistin group had significantly higher renal tubular grade (p=0.035), renal affected area (p<0.001), and SQS (p=0.001) than the Mg+colistin group. The results of the study suggested that Mg sulfate may have a nephrotoxicity-reducing effect on colistin.