Effect of intravenous infusion of magnesium sulfate combined with urokinase for treatment of acute cerebral infarction

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of intravenous magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) infusion combined with urokinase (UK) and determine the optimal dose for treatment of acute cerebral infarction (ACI). Methods One hundred patients with AC1 were randomized into 0, 10, 20 mL group and control group (n=24, 24, 24, 28), and the former 3 groups received intravenous loading infusion of 0, 10, or 20 mL of 25% MgSO4 in addition to OK treatment. After the initial dose of MgSO4, the patients in the combined treatment group received intravenous infusion of 60 mL MgSO4 within 24 h, followed by a daily dose of 20 mL for 14 consecutive days. The blood pressure, tendon reflex, and serum magnesium concentration were monitored during the therapy, and European Stroke Scale (ESS) scores of the patients were recorded at 30 and 90 days after the therapy. Results Treatment with 10 and 20 mL 25% MgSO4 in combination with UK resulted in rapid elevation of serum magnesium concentration and an obvious increase in the long-term ESS score, and the effect was especially obvious with 20 mL MgSO4 No severe adverse effect was noted in these patients during the therapy. Conclusion UK combined with intravenous infusion of 10 or 20 mL 25% MgSO4 may produce obvious therapeutic effect in patients with ACI, and a loading dose of MgSO4 at 20 mL can be optimal. Key words: Magnesium sulfate; Urokinase; Cerebral infarction