Relationship between magnesium dosage and the preventive effect on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity: meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis

Cisplatin (CDDP) is an anticancer drug used to treat several types of cancer. CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN) is a serious adverse effect of CDDP treatment. Although magnesium sulfate (Mg) premedication has been proven to prevent CIN, the relationship between Mg dosage and its preventive effects on CIN are unknown. Therefore, we have evaluated this relationship using meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis to optimize cancer chemotherapies, including CDDP.

We selected candidate studies, generated a forest plot to evaluate the preventive effects of Mg on CIN, and performed subgroup analyses. Moreover, a meta-regression analysis was conducted to reveal the relationship between Mg dosage and its preventive effects on CIN.

We identified 17 related studies and the total odds ratio (OR) of Mg premedication on CIN was 0.26 and the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.17–0.41 (p < 0.00001) although funnel plot suggested asymmetry. In subgroup analysis by forest plot, total OR with 95% CI of low Mg dosage administration (less than 10 mEq) and high Mg dosage administration (10 mEq or higher) was 0.35 (0.16–0.77, p = 0.0169) and 0.12 (0.07–0.21, p < 0.0001), respectively. In addition, meta-regression analysis was performed on Mg dosage and the OR of related studies, indicating a relationship between Mg dosage and OR (p = 0.0349).

This study has revealed that premedication with Mg prevented CIN in a dose-dependent manner.