title: Assessment of serum magnesium levels and its outcome in neonates of eclamptic mothers treated with low-dose magnesium sulfate regimen.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Magnesium historically has been used for treatment and/or prevention of eclampsia. Considering the low body mass index of Indian women, a low-dose magnesium sulfate regime has been introduced by some authors. Increased blood levels of magnesium in neonates is associated with increased still birth, early neonatal death, birth asphyxia, bradycardia, hypotonia, gastrointestinal hypomotility. The objective of this study was to assess safety of low-dose magnesium sulfate regimen in neonates of eclamptic mothers treated with this regimen.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional observational study of 100 eclampsia patients and their neonates. Loading dose and maintenance doses of magnesium sulfate were administered to patients by combination of intravenous and intramuscular routes. Maternal serum and cord blood magnesium levels were estimated. Neonatal outcome was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bradycardia was observed in 18 (19.15%) of the neonates, 16 (17.02%) of the neonates were diagnosed with hypotonia. Pearson Correlation Coefficient showed Apgar scores decreased with increase in cord blood magnesium levels. Unpaired t-test showed lower Apgar scores with increasing dose of magnesium sulfate. The Chi-square/Fisher's exact test showed significant increase in hypotonia, birth asphyxia, intubation in delivery room, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) care requirement, with increasing dose of magnesium sulfate. (P ≤ 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several neonatal complications are significantly related to increasing serum magnesium levels. Overall, the low-dose magnesium sulfate regimen was safe in the management of eclamptic mothers, without toxicity to their neonates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kamarhati, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Monalisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Calcutta National Medical College, Berhampur, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Patralekha Ray
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Chaudhuri
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Medicine, Murshidabad Medical College, Berhampur, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Badal C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Sukumar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Burdwan Medical College, Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Debasmita
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bandyopadhyay
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Calcutta National Medical College, Berhampur, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Sushobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pramanik
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001034:Apgar Score; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D008274:Magnesium
keywords: Eclampsia; low-dose magnesium sulfate; neonatal outcome; serum magnesium level