title: Thiazide treatment of systemic hypertension: effects on serum magnesium and ventricular ectopic activity.
abstract: Clinical and investigational evidence has proved an association between thiazide-induced electrolyte imbalances and ventricular arrhythmias. It is hypothesized that this increases the potential for sudden unexplained death. Elderly hypertensive patients are at particular risk because of their tendency to have significantly depressed serum magnesium levels, which decrease even further when treated with thiazide diuretics. Potassium supplementation does not effectively restore electrolyte balance unless accompanied by magnesium. Therefore, concomitant administration of potassium and magnesium supplementation appears to be an approach to reducing the risk of arrhythmias and death in thiazide-treated hypertensive patients.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Center of Nashville, Tennessee 37203.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hollifield
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D004232:Diuretics; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011188:Potassium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D004232:Diuretics; D004573:Electrolytes; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium