title: The influence of magnesium on visual field and peripheral vasospasm in glaucoma.
abstract: Previous studies indicated calcium channel blockers to be of some help for normal-tension glaucoma patients. The present study evaluates the effect of magnesium, a 'physiological calcium blocker', in 10 glaucoma patients (6 with primary open-angle glaucoma, 4 with normal-tension glaucoma). All patients had a digital cold-induced vasospasm. Magnesium (121.5 mg) was administered twice a day for a month. After 4 weeks of treatment, the visual fields tended to improve. All three video-nailfold-capillaroscopic parameters [blood cell velocity (in mm/s) before and after cooling, cold-induced blood flow cessation (in seconds) as well as the number of capillaries per microscopic field which showed such a blood flow cessation] as well as digital temperature improved significantly. Systemic blood pressure and pulse rate remained stable. In conclusion, magnesium improves the peripheral circulation and seems to have a beneficial effect on the visual field in glaucoma patients with vasospasm.
authors.affiliation: University Eye Clinic, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Gaspar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gasser
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flammer
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014661:Vasoconstriction; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium