Potassium and magnesium status in ischaemic heart disease.

This paper summarizes the evidence that magnesium and potassium ions play a vital role in the generation of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with acute myocardial infarction. In particular, the protective role of magnesium is stressed. Patients with acute myocardial infarction treated prophylactically with magnesium intravenously for the first 24 hours after admission have a much lower incidence of potentially fatal tachyarrhythmias and a low in-hospital mortality. The role of intracellular cation measurements in defining prognosis after acute myocardial infarction is also discussed as is the effect of diuretic therapy.