The Relationship of Serum Magnesium Levels with Etiology, Lesion Size, and Localization in Ischemic Stroke

INTRODUCTION: Magnesium is known to have important effects on vascular system and deficiency of magnesium triggers vasoconstriction and facilitates vascular endothelial damage. There were conflicting results in several studies searched for relationship between magnesium levels, etiologic subtypes, and lesion size in ischemic stroke. We aimed to examine relationship between serum magnesium levels and etiology of stroke as well as lesion size and localization. METHODS: A total of 545 patients over the age of 18 years who presented within the first 24 h of acute ischemic stroke and 189 healthy controls were included in the study. Patients were grouped according to TOAST classification and also as anterior and posterior circulation infarcts. Infarct volume was estimated using MRI scan as large (≥5 cm3) and small (