[Treatment of congestive heart failure complicating chronic Keshen disease with magnesium sulfate and captopril].

150 hospital patients of chronic Keshen disease with congestive heart failure were divided into two groups: the treatment group (TG) and control group (CG). Patients in TG (80 patients) were treated with magnesium sulfate and captopril, while those in CG (70 patients) with digoxin. The results showed a marked difference (P < 0.01) in the total effective ratio between TG (92.5 percent) and CG (65.7 percent). Both groups had an increase in cardiac output and cardiac index, but it was more apparent in TG. With sum vessel resistance (SVR), TG had a remarkable decrease (P < 0.01), patients in while those in CG did not (P > 0.05). The results also showed that the therapeutic effect in TG was satisfactory. The important function of magnesium, the basis of its treatment and the simultaneous administration of magnesium and captopril to reduce the cardiac preload and afterload and to improve the heart function were discussed.