SERIAL ESTIMATION OF SERUM MAGNESIUM, CALCIUM, SODIUM AND POTASSIUM LEVELS IN MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Abstract

Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) is a major public health problem. Fifty percent of deaths associated with AMI are attributable to arrythmias which result due to myocardial ionic imbalance of cations Na⁺,Mg⁺², Ca⁺², and K⁺. Present study aims to find serial change in cation levels in MI cases and their relationship to arrythmias. Methods: Seventy five patients admitted to Intensive Coronary Care Unit (ICCU) with provisional diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction constituted the study group. They were studied serially on 1^st, 3^rd and 7^th day of infarction. Thirty subjects without any heart disease and renal pathology, who were seen in the outpatient departments and healthy volunteers were taken as controls. S.Mg+2, Ca+2, Na+ and K+ were measured in controls and study group and compared.  Results: Mean values of all the cations were lowered on 1^st day of MI in study group compared to controls (p<0.01). A strong association between low Mg+2 and low K+ levels in MI cases and development of arrythmias is observed (p<0.001). Conclusions: Serial estimation of S.Mg+2 can be used as a diagnostic test for MI. Estimation of S.Mg+2 and S.K+ can be used as prognostic markers in MI.