Magnesium Sulfate Administration in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Abstract Magnesium offers theoretic vascular and neuroprotective benefits for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. An electronic literature search was conducted to identify original research studies describing intravenous magnesium treatment in patients with SAH published in English between January 1990 and October 2010. Seventeen articles were identified and reviewed, including one phase III randomized-controlled clinical trial and six phase II randomized-controlled trials. Study quality was low for most of the included studies, with the phase III trial considered to be of moderate quality. Due to inconsistently reported benefits and the occurrence of side effects, phase II data suggested that intravenous magnesium for SAH provided either no overall net benefit or uncertain trade-offs. Benefit was likewise not supported in the single phase III clinical trial.

• Content Type Journal Article
• Pages 1-6
• DOI 10.1007/s12028-011-9603-y
• Authors
  • Jose I. Suarez, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, 6501 Fannin St, NB302, Houston, TX 77030, USA
  • The Participants in the International Multidisciplinary Consensus Conference on the Critical Care Management of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

• Journal Neurocritical Care
• Online ISSN 1556-0961
• Print ISSN 1541-6933