Is low magnesium a clue to arteriovenous fistula complications in hemodialysis?

Magnesium insufficiency is a pro-atherogenic factor involved in endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and vascular calcification. Our aim was to examine the role of magnesium in the development of arteriovenous fistula complications in hemodialysis.

This was a retrospective clinical investigation of data from 88 patients who were divided into two groups: those with and without arteriovenous fistula complications. We examined the influence of sex, demographics, and clinical and laboratory parameters. The existence of fistula stenosis was determined by measuring Doppler flow, while B-mode ultrasound was used to detect plaques and evaluate the carotid artery intima–media thickness.

Patients with arteriovenous fistula complications had significantly higher leukocyte counts (p = 0.03), platelet counts (p = 0.03), phosphate concentrations (p = 0.044), and alkaline phosphatase concentrations (p = 0.04). Patients without complications had significantly greater blood flow through the arteriovenous fistula (p < 0.0005), higher magnesium concentrations (p = 0.004), and a lower carotid artery intima–media thickness (p = 0.037). The magnesium level was inversely correlated with leukocyte (p = 0.028) and platelet (p = 0.016) counts. The magnesium concentration was significantly lower in patients with carotid artery plaques (p = 0.03). Multiple linear regression, using magnesium as the dependent variable in patients with arteriovenous fistula complications, indicated statistically significant correlations with platelet (p = 0.005) and leukocyte (p = 0.027) counts and carotid plaques (p = 0.045).

Hypomagnesemia is a significant pro-atherogenic factor and an important predictor of arteriovenous fistula complications.