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Patients with atrial fibrillation frequently present with rapid ventricular rates. Rates can be controlled with various medications or, if necessary, cardioversion. A few small studies that evaluated use of magnesium sulfate for rate control found promising, but not statistically significant, results. Researchers in Australia examined whether magnesium sulfate in addition to usual care enhances rate control. They predetermined that clinically significant endpoints would be a pulse rate of <100 beats per minute and a between-group difference of ≥15 bpm. Rates of conversion to sinus rhythm and of adverse effects also were assessed.
In a prospective, randomized, double-blind study, 199 patients received either magnesium sulfate (2.5 g infused o…