Magnesium for aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (MASH-2): a randomised placebo-controlled trial.
Intravenous magnesium sulphate does not improve clinical outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage, and routine use cannot be recommended.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the adamax corpusSummary and findings
This study evaluated the effect of intravenous magnesium sulphate on outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage in patients aged 18 years or older. A total of 1204 patients were randomized to receive either magnesium (64 mmol/day) or placebo. The primary outcome showed no significant difference between groups regarding poor outcomes defined by the modified Rankin Scale at three months post-hemorrhage.
Abstract
<h4>Background</h4>Magnesium sulphate is a neuroprotective agent that might improve outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage by reducing the occurrence or improving the outcome of delayed cerebral ischaemia. We did a trial to test whether magnesium therapy improves outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.<h4>Methods</h4>We did this phase 3 randomised, placebo-controlled trial in eight centres in Europe and South America. We randomly assigned (with computer-generated random numbers, with permuted blocks of four, stratified by centre) patients aged 18 years or older with an aneurysmal pattern of subarachnoid haemorrhage on brain imaging who were admitted to hospital within 4 days of haemorrhage, to receive intravenous magnesium sulphate, 64 mmol/day, or placebo. We excluded patients with renal failure or bodyweight lower than 50 kg. Patients, treating physicians, and investigators assessing outcomes and analysing data were masked to the allocation. The primary outcome was poor outcome-defined as a score of 4-5 on the modified Rankin Scale-3 months after subarachnoid haemorrhage, or death. We analysed results by intention to treat. We also updated a previous meta-analysis of trials of magnesium treatment for aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage. This study is registered with controlled-trials.com (ISRCTN 68742385) and the EU Clinical Trials Register (EudraCT 2006-003523-36).<h4>Findings</h4>1204 patients were enrolled, one of whom had his treatment allocation lost. 606 patients were assigned to the magnesium group (two lost to follow-up), 597 to the placebo (one lost to follow-up). 158 patients (26·2%) had poor outcome in the magnesium group compared with 151 (25·3%) in the placebo group (risk ratio [RR] 1·03, 95% CI 0·85-1·25). Our updated meta-analysis of seven randomised trials involving 2047 patients shows that magnesium is not superior to placebo for reduction of poor outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (RR 0·96, 95% CI 0·86-1·08).<h4>Interpretation</h4>Intravenous magnesium sulphate does not improve clinical outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage, therefore routine administration of magnesium cannot be recommended.<h4>Funding</h4>Netherlands Heart Foundation, UK Medical Research Council.
Background
Not reported in abstract.
Methods
Not reported in abstract.
Results
Not reported in abstract.
Interpretation
Not reported in abstract.
Limitations
Not reported in abstract.