Magnesium Sulfate for preeclampisa can be traced back to the work of Horn in 1906! Yet, despite such a long history of use, there are still questions about mag sulfate use that we just don’t have good answers for, and that’s indicative of the all the continued articles and commentaries on the subject that are still being released. For example, there are still sparse data regarding the ideal dosage of magnesium sulfate for preeclampsia with severe features. Even the therapeutic range of 4–8 mEq/L quoted in the literature is questionable. What to know where that statement comes from? That’s in the ACOG PB 222 from 2020! So is the case for mag duration…you know, the 24-hour infusion tradition. The ACOG states in that same PB, “For women requiring cesarean delivery (before onset of labor), the infusion should ideally begin before surgery and continue during surgery, as well as for 24 hours afterwards. For women who deliver vaginally, the infusion should continue for 24 hours after delivery.” But this 24-hour mark, while TOTALLY OK, is more traditional than hard data driven. YES…its true, MOST if not ALL of would give mag for 24 hrs. in cases of eclampsia, and that is SUPER fitting and reasonable since they are the highest to have a recurrent seizure, but what about preeclampsia with severe features, without eclampsia or neurological symptoms. That’s where the 24-hour use can get into a greyer zone; can mag be used for less than 24hrs? Can we use diuresis as a clinical marker to stop mag? Two systematic reviews and meta-analyses looking at PP Mag duration were just published in July 2024 and in September 2024. We will summarize these findings- and more- in this episode.
