Neonatal Hypermagnesemia and the Meconium-Plug Syndrome

Abstract

THE administration of magnesium sulfate to eclamptic women may be associated with hypermagnesemia in the newborn infant, with the development of respiratory depression, lethargy, flaccidity and hyporeflexia. This syndrome may last for several days.1 , 2 Recently, we observed two such hypermagnesemic infants in whom striking abdominal distention and failure to pass meconium ("meconium-plug syndrome") developed. We believe that the hypermagnesemia depressed function of intestinal smooth muscle as well as skeletal striated muscle in these babies.Case ReportsCase 1. A 2810-g Negro female infant was born to a 14-year-old primigravida after 37 weeks' gestation. On the day before delivery, because of . . .