Adverse cardiovascular and blood pressure effects of drug-induced hypomagnesemia

Introduction: The objective of this study was to review the current status of drug-induced hypomagnesemia and its adverse effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hypertension. Since magnesium is a potent vasodilator, which modulates vasomotor tone, peripheral blood flow, and hypertension, its deficiency could have significant cardiovascular and blood pressure (BP) effects. Areas covered: Studies have shown that several factors can contribute to magnesium deficiency including age, diet, disease, and certain drugs such as diuretics and proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs). For an updated perspective of drug-induced hypomagnesemia, a Medline search of the English language literature was conducted between 2010 and 2019 using the terms diuretics, proton-pump inhibitors, hypomagnesemia, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and 35 pertinent papers were retrieved. Expert opinion: The data showed that magnesium deficiency is difficult to occur since it is plentiful in green leafy vegetables, cereals, nuts, and the drinking water. However, magnesium deficiency can occur with the use of diuretics for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure, or the use of PPIs for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Therefore, magnesium deficiency should be detected and treated to prevent the aggravation of hypertension and the onset of CVD and serious cardiac arrhythmias including torsades de points.