Serum Magnesium Levels and Neurological Outcome After Acute Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Introduction. Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide. Approximately a third of survivors are functionally de­pendent at one year and it is the commonest cause of neurological disability in the developed world. Protecting the brain from ischemic damage remains a major target for stroke researchers. Many clinical trials tried to prove the efficacy of magnesium administration in stroke patients, but none have investigated the relationships between serum magnesium levels and outcome. Method. We prospectivelly analyzed 83 stroke patients enrolled in a cohort study between 2009 and 2010 and studied 30 and 90-day outcome data. In stroke survivors uni­variate Cox regression models and Kaplan–Meier plots were used to determine subject characteristics associated with an increased hazard of recurrence. Serum magnesium levels were measured daily during the hospital stay. Independent status was defined as Glasgow Out­come Scale grades 4 or 5 and Rankin Modified Scale 0 to 2. Results. Magnesium < 1,8 mg/dl were founded in 20 out of 83 patients (24%). There was no effect of low magnesium levels on rates of functional independence (28% versus 29%, P=0.84) or mortality (46% versus 45%, P=0.93). Conclusion. Serum magnesium levels were not associ­ated with worse outcomes in our series.