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Does Magnesium Sulfate Treat Eclamptic Seizures?: Yes

Does Magnesium Sulfate Treat Eclamptic Seizures?: Yes Abstract Contradictory statements are found in the medical literature about magnesium sulfate as treatment for eclampsia. They vary from "the drug of choice in North America for impending convulsions or frank eclampsia... the standard by which all others must be assessed"1 through "the use of intravenous magnesium is time honored but has been discouraged in recent years"2 to "... magnesium sulfate does not treat eclamptic convulsions."3 As might be expected, the same literature does not report controlled clinical trials evaluating magnesium sulfate treatment. However, empirical evidence4-7 justifies a positive reaction to the question "Does magnesium sulfate treat eclamptic convulsions?" Reports from large obstetric units describing patient management over many years favor the use of magnesium sulfate. Some believe the therapeutic response to magnesium sulfate, hydralazine, and early delivery is "so self-evident as to provoke little controversy."6 Eclampsia is a disorder unique to pregnancy and puerperium. It is References 1. Lindheimer MD, Katz AI: Hypertension in pregnancy . N Engl J Med 1984;313:675-680.Crossref 2. Niedermeyer E: Epilepsy Guide . Baltimore, Urban & Schwarzenberg, 1983, p 206. 3. Donaldson JO: Does magnesium sulfate treat eclamptic convulsions? Clin Neuropharmacol 1986;9:37-45.Crossref 4. Sibai BM, Lipshitz MB, Anderson MD, et al: Reassessment of intravenous MgSO4 therapy in preeclampsia-eclampsia . Obstet Gynecol 1981;57:199-202. 5. Chesley LC: Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy . East Norwalk, Conn, Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1978. 6. Pritchard JA, Cunningham FG, Pritchard SA: The Parkland Memorial Hospital protocol for treatment of eclampsia: Evaluation of 245 cases . Am J Obstet Gynecol 1984;148:951-963.Crossref 7. Pritchard JA: Management of preeclampsia and eclampsia . Kidney Int 1980;18:259-266.Crossref 8. Dunn R, Lee W, Cotton DB: Evaluation by computerized axial tomography of eclamptic women with seizures refractory to magnesium sulfate therapy . Am J Obstet Gynecol 1986;155:267-268.Crossref 9. Rail DL, Perkin CD: Computerized tomographic appearances of hypertensive encephalopathy . Arch Neurol 1980;37:310-311.Crossref 10. Borges LF, Gucer G: Effect of magnesium on epileptic foci . Epilepsia 1978;19:81-91.Crossref 11. Newman RL: Serum electrolytes in pregnancy, parturition, and puerperium . Obstet Gynecol 1957;10:51-57. 12. Goldkrand JW, Fuentes AM: The relation of angiotensin-converting enzyme to the pregnancy-induced hypertension-preeclampsia syndrome . Am J Obstet Gynecol 1986;154:792-800.Crossref 13. Zavet GM: Possible treatment of preeclampsia with calcium channel blocking agents . Med Hypotheses 1983;12:303-319.Crossref 14. Turlapaty PDMV, Weiner R, Altura BM: Interaction of magnesium and verapamil on tone and contractility of vascular smooth muscles . Eur J Pharmacol 1981;74:263-272.Crossref 15. Clive WB Jr, Coleman JV: Treatment of delirium tremens . JAMA 1936;107:404-409.Crossref 16. Horn E: To tilfaelde af eclampsia gravidarum behandlet med sulfas magnesicus injiceret i rygmarvenś subarachnoidalrum . Medicinsk Rev 1906;32:264-272. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Neurology American Medical Association

Does Magnesium Sulfate Treat Eclamptic Seizures?: Yes

Archives of Neurology , Volume 45 (12) – Dec 1, 1988

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References (17)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1988 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-9942
eISSN
1538-3687
DOI
10.1001/archneur.1988.00520360078016
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract Contradictory statements are found in the medical literature about magnesium sulfate as treatment for eclampsia. They vary from "the drug of choice in North America for impending convulsions or frank eclampsia... the standard by which all others must be assessed"1 through "the use of intravenous magnesium is time honored but has been discouraged in recent years"2 to "... magnesium sulfate does not treat eclamptic convulsions."3 As might be expected, the same literature does not report controlled clinical trials evaluating magnesium sulfate treatment. However, empirical evidence4-7 justifies a positive reaction to the question "Does magnesium sulfate treat eclamptic convulsions?" Reports from large obstetric units describing patient management over many years favor the use of magnesium sulfate. Some believe the therapeutic response to magnesium sulfate, hydralazine, and early delivery is "so self-evident as to provoke little controversy."6 Eclampsia is a disorder unique to pregnancy and puerperium. It is References 1. Lindheimer MD, Katz AI: Hypertension in pregnancy . N Engl J Med 1984;313:675-680.Crossref 2. Niedermeyer E: Epilepsy Guide . Baltimore, Urban & Schwarzenberg, 1983, p 206. 3. Donaldson JO: Does magnesium sulfate treat eclamptic convulsions? Clin Neuropharmacol 1986;9:37-45.Crossref 4. Sibai BM, Lipshitz MB, Anderson MD, et al: Reassessment of intravenous MgSO4 therapy in preeclampsia-eclampsia . Obstet Gynecol 1981;57:199-202. 5. Chesley LC: Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy . East Norwalk, Conn, Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1978. 6. Pritchard JA, Cunningham FG, Pritchard SA: The Parkland Memorial Hospital protocol for treatment of eclampsia: Evaluation of 245 cases . Am J Obstet Gynecol 1984;148:951-963.Crossref 7. Pritchard JA: Management of preeclampsia and eclampsia . Kidney Int 1980;18:259-266.Crossref 8. Dunn R, Lee W, Cotton DB: Evaluation by computerized axial tomography of eclamptic women with seizures refractory to magnesium sulfate therapy . Am J Obstet Gynecol 1986;155:267-268.Crossref 9. Rail DL, Perkin CD: Computerized tomographic appearances of hypertensive encephalopathy . Arch Neurol 1980;37:310-311.Crossref 10. Borges LF, Gucer G: Effect of magnesium on epileptic foci . Epilepsia 1978;19:81-91.Crossref 11. Newman RL: Serum electrolytes in pregnancy, parturition, and puerperium . Obstet Gynecol 1957;10:51-57. 12. Goldkrand JW, Fuentes AM: The relation of angiotensin-converting enzyme to the pregnancy-induced hypertension-preeclampsia syndrome . Am J Obstet Gynecol 1986;154:792-800.Crossref 13. Zavet GM: Possible treatment of preeclampsia with calcium channel blocking agents . Med Hypotheses 1983;12:303-319.Crossref 14. Turlapaty PDMV, Weiner R, Altura BM: Interaction of magnesium and verapamil on tone and contractility of vascular smooth muscles . Eur J Pharmacol 1981;74:263-272.Crossref 15. Clive WB Jr, Coleman JV: Treatment of delirium tremens . JAMA 1936;107:404-409.Crossref 16. Horn E: To tilfaelde af eclampsia gravidarum behandlet med sulfas magnesicus injiceret i rygmarvenś subarachnoidalrum . Medicinsk Rev 1906;32:264-272.

Journal

Archives of NeurologyAmerican Medical Association

Published: Dec 1, 1988

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