Low intracellular magnesium levels promote platelet-dependent thrombosis in patients with coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
Although reduced intracellular levels of magnesium have been described in patients with acute myocardial infarction, its significance as a regulator of thrombosis remains unknown.


RESULTS
To determine whether reduced intracellular levels of magnesium enhance platelet-dependent thrombosis, we evaluated 42 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) by exposing porcine aortic media to their flowing unanticoagulated venous blood for 5 minutes by using an ex vivo perfusion (Badimon) chamber. Baseline analysis demonstrated significant associations between intracellular levels of magnesium, platelet-dependent thrombosis (P =.02), and platelet P-selectin (CD62P) expression (P <.05). Patients were divided into 2 groups: below (n = 22) and above (n = 20) the median intracellular levels of magnesium (1.12 microg/mg protein). There were no significant differences in age, body mass index, serum lipids, fibrinogen, platelet count, or serum magnesium levels between the two groups. Platelet-dependent thrombosis was significantly higher in patients with intracellular levels of magnesium below compared with above median (150 +/- 128 vs 45 +/- 28 microm(2)/mm, P <.004). Neither platelet aggregation nor CD62P expression was significantly different between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Platelet-dependent thrombosis was significantly increased in patients with stable CAD with low intracellular levels of magnesium, suggesting a potential role for magnesium supplementation in CAD.
Shechter
M
M
Preventive and Rehabilitative Cardiac Center and the Atherosclerosis Research Center, Cedars-Sinai Burns and Allen Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
Merz
C N
CN
Rude
R K
RK
Paul Labrador
M J
MJ
Meisel
S R
SR
Shah
P K
PK
Kaul
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood*; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013552:Swine; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood*
D019007:P-Selectin; D008274:Magnesium