Assessment of Serum Magnesium Mean Levels at Pre- and Postmagnesium Sulfate Uptake for Eclampsia Prevention: A...

Objective: To assess serum magnesium mean levels in pregnant women with severe preeclampsia at three landmarks: prior to MgSO₄ intake, 30 min, and 6 h postintake of loading dose plus maintenance dose. Methodology: This cross-sectional study collected blood samples over a timeframe of 0-6 h from 64 pregnant women diagnosed with severe preeclampsia who were receiving MgSO₄ therapy at the emergency management department of Hung Vuong Hospital, Vietnam, in the period of November 2023 to April 2024. Serum magnesium levels were measured three times in the timeframe. Results: Prior to MgSO₄ intake, the serum magnesium mean level was 0.75 ± 0.13 mmol/L. At 30 min postloading dose intake plus maintenance, the level increased to 1.65 ± 0.32 mmol/L, and at 6 h, 1.6 ± 0.34 mmol/L, where 17.2% of patients had a serum magnesium level of 2 mmol/L or higher. Conclusion: There were no eclampsia incidents in patients with severe preeclampsia treated with a regimen of a loading dose of 4.5 g MgSO₄ followed by a 1 g-hourly maintenance. Nevertheless, about 17% of participants achieved the desired threshold of 2 mmol/L, indicating a need for additional research to refine the loading and maintenance doses of MgSO₄ for better management of severe preeclampsia in Vietnamese women.