Parental magnesium sulfate [MgSO4] in the treatment of atrial fibrilation [AF]

ABSTRACT

The antiarrhythmic effects of magnesium sulfate were known long ago particularly in ventricular tachycardia and in torsade de points. This study reported the results of IV MgS04 in 30 patients with chronic AF. A prospective study conducted on 30 patients [12 males and 18 females with a mean age of 54 +/- 8.12] was carried out. Underlying heart disease comprised RHD in 9 patients, CAD in 5 patients and cardiomyopathy in 2 patients. The remaining patients had no structural heart disease. Following clinical evaluation, all patients had an infusion of MgS04 at a rate of 25mg/Kg following a bolus of 35-mg/Kg-body weight. The results revealed that of the 30 patients subjected to IV MgS04 infusion, 8 were successfully cardioverted to sinus rhythm over a mean period of 2 hours [ranging from 6-12 hours], while 10 patients had achieved rate control from a mean of 140/min to 100/min. over a period of 3 hours and twelve patients failed to respond. The study concluded that IV MgSO4 can be used successfully in the therapeutic cardioversion and/or rate control of AF particularly in patients with small left atrium