UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Magnesium as a Neuroprotective Agent: A Review of Its Use in the Fetus, Term Infant with Neonatal Encephalopathy, and the Adult Stroke Patient

Lingam, I; Robertson, NJ; (2018) Magnesium as a Neuroprotective Agent: A Review of Its Use in the Fetus, Term Infant with Neonatal Encephalopathy, and the Adult Stroke Patient. Developmental Neuroscience , 40 (1) pp. 1-12. 10.1159/000484891. Green open access

[thumbnail of Lingam_Magnesium Review Paper 13-10-17.pdf]
Preview
Text
Lingam_Magnesium Review Paper 13-10-17.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (186kB) | Preview

Abstract

Magnesium is an intracellular cation essential for many en-zymatic processes and cellular functions. Magnesium sulfate acts as an endogenous calcium channel antagonist at neuronal synapses, thought to prevent excessive activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors by excitatory amino acids, such as glutamate, and by downregulation of proinflammatory pathways. Early intervention is essential in the prevention of the secondary phase of neuronal injury. The immature brain is particularly prone to excitotoxicity, and inflammation has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of cerebral palsy. This article explores the current status of magnesium being used as an adjunct to hypothermia in term neonatal encephalopathy (NE) against a background of its use in other populations. There is some evidence for magnesium sulfate as a neuroprotective agent, however animal studies of NE at term equivalent age have been confounded by concomitant hypothermia induced by magnesium itself. Nevertheless, the combination of magnesium and cooling has been shown to be more effective than either treatment alone in adult rodents. In the preterm baby, magnesium sulfate given antenatally in threatened preterm labor has demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of cerebral palsy at 2 years of age, though the benefit is not clear at school age. In adult clinical studies of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, there have been disappointing results for magnesium sulfate as a neuroprotective strategy. Importantly, clinical neurological scores may be affected by the increased hypotonia observed. We suggest that magnesium sulfate should be carefully re-evaluated as a neuroprotective agent given its favorable safety profile, relative low cost, and widespread availability.

Type: Article
Title: Magnesium as a Neuroprotective Agent: A Review of Its Use in the Fetus, Term Infant with Neonatal Encephalopathy, and the Adult Stroke Patient
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1159/000484891
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1159/000484891
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Magnesium sulfate · Neonatal encephalopathy · Hypoxicischemic encephalopathy · Fetal neuroprotection
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL EGA Institute for Womens Health
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL EGA Institute for Womens Health > Maternal and Fetal Medicine
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL EGA Institute for Womens Health > Neonatology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10062636
Downloads since deposit
142Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item