The Relationship Between Plasma Magnesium Concentration and Hepatic Encephalopathy in Liver Cirrhosis Patients: A Preliminary Result of a Referral Center in Iran

Abstract

Background: The present study aimed to assess the relationship between hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and serum magnesium concentration in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: The study population consisted of 90 cirrhotic patients admitted to the internal ward of Shariati Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. The patients were divided into two groups: with or without HE. Demographic data, cirrhosis aetiology, plasma concentration of magnesium, model end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, and Child-Pugh-Turcotte (CTP) class were recorded. Results: Thirty-one patients (34.4%) had hypomagnesaemia. Age and sex had no significant effects on plasma magnesium concentration (P-value = 0.134 and 0.212, respectively). The distribution of cirrhosis aetiologies was significantly different between patients with and without hypomagnesaemia (P-value = 0.005). Most patients with hypomagnesaemia were in groups B and C of CTP class (P = 0.027) and had a mean MELD score of 16.5 ± 5.8 versus 14.3 ± 5.4 in patients without hypomagnesaemia (P-value = 0.08). Hepatic encephalopathy was diagnosed in 45 (50.0%) patients. Mean serum levels of magnesium in patients with or without HE were 1.6 ± 0.2 and 1.9 ± 0.2 mEq/L, respectively (P-value < 0.001). There was no significant association between encephalopathy grade and serum magnesium concentration (P-value = 0.377). Conclusions: We demonstrated a relatively high prevalence of hypomagnesaemia among cirrhotic patients with HE. Hypomagnesaemia was associated with the severity of liver cirrhosis based on the Child-Pugh score. Prescription of magnesium supplements in cirrhotic patients may be helpful in preventing disease progression; however, further studies are needed.