Abstract:
The study included an experimental group of 64 patients with meningoencephalitis with moderate to severe course, aged 18-60 years. The patients’ score
according to the Glasgow Coma Scale was higher than 8. The group consisted of 2 subgroups of 32 patients: (1) magnesium sulfate was added to standard
treatment and the patients’ condition was being assessed in 2 hours after every administration of this medicine, and (2) the patients of this subgroup have
received standard treatment without magnesium sulfate and have been examined in the same way. Magnesium sulfate was administered by intravenous
infusion of 20 ml of 25% solution (single dose 5000 mg) diluted in 400 ml of 10% solution of glucose. Besides common methods of examination, the
authors have used photoplethysmography and assessed autonomic nervous system reflexes and parameters, blood pressure components, and specific ECG
parameters. In comparison with the standard therapy, adding magnesium sulfate into treatment resulted in more pronounced decrudescence related with
the somatic and autonomic nervous system, namely: meningeal, encephalitis syndrome, respiratory, cardiovascular, intestinal dysfunctions. Magnesium
sulfate favors decrease of sympathicotonia and increase of vagotonia what especially declares itself through reducing blood pressure and heart rate. It is
reasonable to introduce magnesium sulfate in treatment protocols for meningoencephalitis.
