Aims
Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) treatment is widely used for the prevention of eclamptic seizures. However, its effect on mediators of endothelial dysfunction (ED) and electrolytes remains unclear. We evaluated the effects of MgSO4 treatment on mediators of ED and electrolytes.
Conclusion
MgSO&sub4; treatment reduces AM, sICAM-1, and sodium levels but improves magnesium and CGRP in severe than mild PE thus have more beneficial role in severe PE.
Methods
We recruited 100 women comprising 50 severe, 50 mild preeclampsia (PE) as cases and 50 normotensive pregnant women as controls from the Sampa Government Hospital, Ghana. We estimated for adrenomedullin (AM), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), Na+, K+, and Mg2+ before MgSO4 treatment, 24 h after MgSO4 treatment, and 48 h after delivery. p < 0.05 were considered significant for statistical analyses.
Results
Levels of AM, sICAM-1, and Na+ decreased significantly at 24 h after MgSO4 treatment and 48 h after delivery among PE women compared to the AM levels before treatment (p < 0.0001). The levels of CGRP and Mg2+ increased significantly after 24 h of MgSO4 treatment and 48 h after delivery among PE compared to the AM levels before treatment (p < 0.0001). The changes in AM, sICAM-1, CGRP, and Mg2+ at 24 h after treatment and 48 h after delivery were significantly higher in severe compared to mild PE (p < 0.0001). AM levels reduced significantly by 14.7% in mild and 42.7% in severe PE after MgSO&sub4; treatment (p < 0.05). sICAM-1 levels reduced significantly by 20.9% in mild and 25% in severe PE after MgSO&sub4; treatment. After MgSO&sub4; treatment, there was significant increase of 42.1% and >100% in CGRP levels in mild and severe PE, respectively (p < 0.05). After MgSO&sub4; treatment, Mg²⁺ levels increased significantly by 67.0% and 63.8% in mild and severe PE, respectively (p < 0.05).