Heart rate disorders in potassium and magnesium deficiency

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Ugeskr Laeger. 1992 Sep 7;154(37):2470-4. Related Articles, Links

 

[Heart rate disorders in potassium and magnesium deficiency]

 

[Article in Danish]

 

Tveskov C, Djurhuus MS, Klitgaard NA.

 

Odense Sygehus, medicinsk-Kardiologisk afdeling B.

 

Potassium and magnesium deficiencies are common in patients with heart

disease. These are often coexistent and pathophysiologically related. Potassium

deficiency cannot be treated without correction of concomitant magnesium

deficiency. Correlations between serum levels and body stores are very poor for

both

ions. Therefore diagnosis and treatment of these conditions based on serum

levels alone are erroneous. There is some evidence that it is primarily the

intracellular depletion of these ions which is arrhythmogenic. Magnesium

infusion has

been proved effective in treatment of torsade de pointes ventricular

tachycardia and arrhythmias induced by digoxin-intoxication, and is recommended

in

these conditions. Whether it is effective in other forms of arrhythmia is not

yet

elucidated.

 

Publication Types:

English Abstract

Review

PMID: 1413169 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]