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Magnesium in Preeclampsia..


In a cochrane review, 11,444 women in 15 randomized trials were recruited from a mix of high, middle, and low income countries. The largest is the 33-country MagPie Trial comparing intravenous magnesium to placebo. The study was published in 2002 and at >10,000 subjects accounts for more than 87% of those in the review.

The use of magnesium sulfate

was associated with a greater than 50% relative reduction in the risk of eclampsia (RR 0.41).

 As noted by the reviewers, a similar reduction in maternal mortality (RR 0.54) was also found, though the absolute number of deaths was small which may have kept this reduction from reaching statistical significance.

 A reduction in placental abruption was also noted (RR 0.64) as well as a small increase in the rate of cesarian section.

No differences were seen in child outcomes.

As a secondary outcome, magnesium sulfate was more effective than phenytoin for reducing risk of eclampsia in 3 trials (RR 0.08) but also increased caesarian section in 2 trials (RR 1.21).

Toxicity with magnesium sulfate is rare with 0.5% of women having respiratory depression (RR 1.98). More minor side effects such as flushing (20%) were also noted.

Conclusion:This review strongly supports the current use of magnesium sulfate as the drug of choice in the prevention of eclampsia, particularly in those with severe preeclampsia, and provides reasonable reassurance that this benefit in the short term is not associated with long-term negative sequelae for either women (up to 2 years) or children (up to 18 months). Although few women in these studies had mild preeclampsia, it would seem plausible that magnesium sulfate would also reduce the risk of eclampsia in these women. In addition, given the safety profile of magnesium sulfate and the ability to monitor toxicity clinically with limited training, serum monitoring is not required, allowing for wide applicability in hospital settings.

 Duley L, Gülmezoglu AM, Henderson-Smart DJ, Chou D. Magnesium sulphate and other anticonvulsants for women with pre-eclampsia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Nov 10;(11):CD000025. Review. PubMed PMID: 21069663.

Weeks AD, Ononge S. The magpie trial. Lancet. 2002 Oct 26;360(9342):1331; author reply 1331-2. PubMed PMID: 12414232
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