Low intracellular magnesium levels promote platelet-dependent thrombosis in patients with coronary artery disease

Background Although reduced intracellular levels of magnesium have been described in patients with acute myocardial infarction, its significance as a regulator of thrombosis remains unknown. Methods and Results To determine whether reduced intracellular levels of magnesium enhance platelet-dependent thrombosis, we evaluated 42 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) by exposing porcine aortic media to their flowing unanticoagulated venous blood for 5 minutes by using an ex vivo perfusion (Badimon) chamber. Baseline analysis demonstrated significant associations between intracellular levels of magnesium, platelet-dependent thrombosis (P =.02), and platelet P-selectin (CD62P) expression (P