Magnesium for Preeclampsia and Eclampsia

Abstract

Magnesium was first used more than 60 years ago as a therapy for and prophylaxis against eclamptic seizures.¹ It became standard treatment over the next 30 years and was associated with a dramatic reduction in maternal and neonatal morbidity related to eclampsia.² Whether magnesium was responsible for the better outcome, however, was never tested in a randomized trial. Although newer and more effective anticonvulsant agents have become available, magnesium remains the mainstay of therapy for eclampsia. Its use has been criticized as being irrational, since it is not an anticonvulsant³ and is probably ineffective. On the other hand, it has . . .