Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1972 Jun;35(3):342–355. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.35.3.342

Effect of magnesium on nerve conduction velocity during regular dialysis treatment

Laura W Fleming 1,2, J A R Lenman 1,2, W K Stewart 1,2
PMCID: PMC494075  PMID: 4338446

Abstract

Serial nerve conduction velocities in the peroneal and ulnar nerves have been measured in 10 patients on regular dialysis treatment over a three year period. Each patient alternated between phases on dialysis with magnesium-containing dialysate (1·5-1·7 m-equiv/l.) and phases on `magnesium-free' dialysate (0·2 m-equiv/l.). Plasma magnesium concentrations were high both pre- and post-dialysis during magnesium-containing dialysis, and normal to low on magnesium-free dialysis. All patients had defects in nerve conduction, mainly asymptomatic. Increases in nerve conduction velocity coincided with magnesium-free dialysis, and decreases occurred when the patients reverted to magnesium-containing dialysate. The significance of the correlation by the sign test was P<0·0005. It is concluded that extracellular magnesium levels can influence the rate of nerve conduction in vivo.

Full text

PDF
342

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ASBURY A. K., VICTOR M., ADAMS R. D. Uremic polyneuropathy. Arch Neurol. 1963 Apr;8:413–428. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1963.00460040083008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Abood L. G. Interrelationships between phosphates and calcium in bioelectric phenomena. Int Rev Neurobiol. 1966;9:223–261. doi: 10.1016/s0074-7742(08)60139-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BARKER E. S., ELKINTON J. R., CLARK J. K. Studies of the renal excretion of magnesium in man. J Clin Invest. 1959 Oct;38:1733–1745. doi: 10.1172/JCI103952. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Blaustein M. P., Goldman D. E. The action of certain polyvalent cations on the voltage-clamped lobster axon. J Gen Physiol. 1968 Mar;51(3):279–291. doi: 10.1085/jgp.51.3.279. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. CLARKSON E. M., MCDONALD S. J., DEWARDENER H. E., WARREN R. MAGNESIUM METABOLISM IN CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE. Clin Sci. 1965 Feb;28:107–115. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Clarkson E. M., Warren R. L., McDonald S. J., de Wardener H. E. The effect of a high intake of calcium on magnesium metabolism in normal subjects and patients with chronic renal failure. Clin Sci. 1967 Feb;32(1):11–18. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Coburn J. W., Popovtzer M. M., Massry S. G., Kleeman C. R. The physicochemical state and renal handling of divalent ions in chronic renal failure. Arch Intern Med. 1969 Sep;124(3):302–311. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. DEL CASTILLO J., ENGBAEK L. The nature of the neuromuscular block produced by magnesium. J Physiol. 1954 May 28;124(2):370–384. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1954.sp005114. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Douglas W. W. Stimulus-secretion coupling: the concept and clues from chromaffin and other cells. Br J Pharmacol. 1968 Nov;34(3):451–474. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1968.tb08474.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Dyck P. J., Johnson W. J., Lambert E. H., O'Brien P. C. Segmental demyelination secondary to axonal degeneration in uremic neuropathy. Mayo Clin Proc. 1971 Jun;46(6):400–431. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. FRANKENHAEUSER B., HODGKIN A. L. The action of calcium on the electrical properties of squid axons. J Physiol. 1957 Jul 11;137(2):218–244. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1957.sp005808. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. FRANKENHAEUSER B., MEVES H. The effect of magnesium and calcium on the frog myelinated nerve fibre. J Physiol. 1958 Jul 14;142(2):360–365. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1958.sp006022. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Fleming L. W., Stewart W. K. The effect of the atomiser on the estimation of magnesium by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Clin Chim Acta. 1966 Jul;14(1):131–134. doi: 10.1016/0009-8981(66)90075-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Govan J. R., Porter C. A., Cook J. G., Dixon B., Traffor J. A. Acute magnesium poisoning as a complication of chronic intermittent haemodialysis. Br Med J. 1968 May 4;2(5600):278–279. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5600.278. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. HEGSTROM R. M., MURRAY J. S., PENDRAS J. P., BURNELL J. M., SCRIBNER B. H. Two year's experience with periodic hemodialysis in the treatment of chronic uremia. Trans Am Soc Artif Intern Organs. 1962;8:266–280. doi: 10.1097/00002480-196204000-00057. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Hollinrake K., Thomas P. K. Electrical and morphological observations on uraemic neuropathy. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1968 Oct;25(4):398–399. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Hollinrake K., Thomas P. K., Wills M. R., Baillod R. A. Observations on plasma magnesium levels in patients with uremic neuropathy under treatment by periodic hemodialysis. Neurology. 1970 Sep;20(9):939–942. doi: 10.1212/wnl.20.9.939. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Honet J. C., Jebsen R. H., Perrin E. B. Variability of nerve conduction velocity determinations in normal persons. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1968 Nov;49(11):650–654. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Jebsen R. H., Tenckhoff H., Honet J. C. Natural history of uremic polyneuropathy and effects of dialysis. N Engl J Med. 1967 Aug 17;277(7):327–333. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196708172770702. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. KATZ B., MILEDI R. THE EFFECT OF CALCIUM ON ACETYLCHOLINE RELEASE FROM MOTOR NERVE TERMINALS. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1965 Feb 16;161:496–503. doi: 10.1098/rspb.1965.0017. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Konotey-Ahulu F. I., Baillod R., Comty C. M., Heron J. R., Shaldon S., Thomas P. K. Effect of periodic dialysis on the peripheral neuropathy of end-stage renal failure. Br Med J. 1965 Nov 20;2(5472):1212–1215. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5472.1212. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Liberson W. T., Gratzer M., Zalis A. W. Electrodiagnostic indices in patients with renal dialysis. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1969 Sep;27(7):724–724. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(69)91409-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Lovelace R. E., Horwitz S. J. Peripheral neuropathy in long-term diphenylhydantoin therapy. Arch Neurol. 1968 Jan;18(1):69–77. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1968.00470310083007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Ogden D. A., Holmes J. H. Changes in total and ultrafilterable plasma calcium and magnesium during hemodialysis. Trans Am Soc Artif Intern Organs. 1966;12:200–204. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. PRESWICK G., JEREMY D. SUBCLINICAL POLYNEUROPATHY IN RENAL INSUFFICIENCY. Lancet. 1964 Oct 3;2(7362):731–732. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(64)92548-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. RANDALL R. E., Jr, COHEN M. D., SPRAY C. C., Jr, ROSSMEISL E. C. HYPERMAGNESEMIA IN RENAL FAILURE. ETIOLOGY AND TOXIC MANIFESTATIONS. Ann Intern Med. 1964 Jul;61:73–88. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-61-1-73. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Stewart J. H., Neale F. C., Blomfield J. Magnesium and the haemodialysis patient. Lancet. 1969 Oct 11;2(7624):798–799. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(69)90507-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Szegedy L., Berényi M., Csata S. Complications in the nervous systm under the influence of hemodialysis, attributable to changes of the serum-liquor electrolyte and pH levels. Eur Neurol. 1968;1(4):247–254. doi: 10.1159/000113665. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Tasaki I., Watanabe A., Lerman L. Role of divalent cations in excitation of squid giant axons. Am J Physiol. 1967 Dec;213(6):1465–1474. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1967.213.6.1465. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Versaci A. A., Olsen K. J., McMain P. B., Nakamoto S., Kolff W. J. Uremic polyneuropathy: and motor nerve conduction velocities. Trans Am Soc Artif Intern Organs. 1964;10:328–331. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. van de Most van Spijk D., Dijkstra S., Jennekens F. G. Maximum conduction velocity and range of conduction velocity in motor fibers of the deep peroneal nerve in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1969 Sep;27(7):715–715. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(69)91382-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES