The effect of ionised magnesium on coagulation using thromboelastography.

Magnesium is an ionised mineral with therapeutic uses. There is laboratory evidence that it may have an anticoagulant activity although recent research has been to the contrary. The clinical implications of the effect of a therapeutic dose of magnesium on coagulation have yet to be resolved conclusively. In our study, 10 healthy volunteers were given 4 g of magnesium sulphate intravenously. Thromboelastographs were recorded and blood analysed for haematological indices, before and after the infusion. All variables associated with coagulation remained unchanged except the alpha angle on the thromboelastograph which increased significantly. We conclude that in our in vivo study, the effect of magnesium sulphate on coagulation is not clinically significant.