Magnesium Therapy for Acute Myocardial Infarction.

The use of magnesium therapy for acute myocardial infarction remains controversial despite recent clinical trials such as ISIS-4. Magnesium has numerous beneficial effects in the setting of myocardial infarction, including inhibitory effects on platelet aggregation. Clinical trials of magnesium therapy for myocardial infarction have yielded conflicting results that may be related to the difference in the timing of magnesium administration. Moreover, magnesium may have salutary effects in patients who are ineligible for thrombolytic therapy. Further clinical trials are still needed to elucidate definitively the role of magnesium therapy for myocardial infarction.