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Serum magnesium and potassium in acute myocardial infarction. Influence on ventricular arrhythmias.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kafka, H; Langevin, L; Armstrong, PW
Published in: Arch Intern Med
March 1987

Over a 13-month period, serum potassium and magnesium levels were measured in 590 patients admitted to a coronary care unit. Hypokalemia, often in the absence of diuretic use, occurred in 17% of the 211 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Patients with acute myocardial infarction and a potassium level of less than 4.0 mEq/L (4.0 mmol/L) had an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias (59% vs 42%). Because hypokalemia is common in acute myocardial infarction and is associated with ventricular arrhythmias, routine measurement of serum potassium levels and prompt correction are recommended. Hypomagnesemia occurred in only 4% of the patients, but it was more common in the group with acute myocardial infarction than in the group without myocardial infarction (6% vs 3%). Ventricular arrhythmias occurred in ten of the 13 patients with both acute myocardial infarction and hypomagnesemia, but eight of these patients also had low serum potassium levels. This low incidence of hypomagnesemia does not justify routine measurement of serum magnesium levels. However, the mean level (2.5 +/- 0.4 mg/dL [1.03 +/- 0.16 mmol/L]) in a reference population of healthy volunteers was unexpectedly high and suggests that the low incidence of hypomagnesemia in our population may not be applicable to other centers and may reflect a higher magnesium content in our geographic area of southeastern Ontario.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Arch Intern Med

ISSN

0003-9926

Publication Date

March 1987

Volume

147

Issue

3

Start / End Page

465 / 469

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Prospective Studies
  • Potassium
  • Myocardial Infarction
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Magnesium
  • Hypokalemia
  • Humans
  • Heart Ventricles
  • General & Internal Medicine
 

Citation

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MLA
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Kafka, H., Langevin, L., & Armstrong, P. W. (1987). Serum magnesium and potassium in acute myocardial infarction. Influence on ventricular arrhythmias. Arch Intern Med, 147(3), 465–469.
Kafka, H., L. Langevin, and P. W. Armstrong. “Serum magnesium and potassium in acute myocardial infarction. Influence on ventricular arrhythmias.Arch Intern Med 147, no. 3 (March 1987): 465–69.
Kafka H, Langevin L, Armstrong PW. Serum magnesium and potassium in acute myocardial infarction. Influence on ventricular arrhythmias. Arch Intern Med. 1987 Mar;147(3):465–9.
Kafka, H., et al. “Serum magnesium and potassium in acute myocardial infarction. Influence on ventricular arrhythmias.Arch Intern Med, vol. 147, no. 3, Mar. 1987, pp. 465–69.
Kafka H, Langevin L, Armstrong PW. Serum magnesium and potassium in acute myocardial infarction. Influence on ventricular arrhythmias. Arch Intern Med. 1987 Mar;147(3):465–469.

Published In

Arch Intern Med

ISSN

0003-9926

Publication Date

March 1987

Volume

147

Issue

3

Start / End Page

465 / 469

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Prospective Studies
  • Potassium
  • Myocardial Infarction
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Magnesium
  • Hypokalemia
  • Humans
  • Heart Ventricles
  • General & Internal Medicine