Higher-dose intravenous magnesium therapy for children with moderate to severe acute asthma.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the efficacy of a 40-mg/kg dose of intravenous magnesium sulfate for moderate to severe asthma exacerbations in pediatric patients.

STUDY DESIGN:

Double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

SETTING:

Two urban tertiary care pediatric emergency departments.

SUBJECTS:

Thirty patients, aged 6 to 17.9 years, being treated for an acute asthma exacerbation.

INTERVENTION:

Eligible patients received either a magnesium sulfate infusion of 40 mg/kg or saline solution.

RESULTS:

At 20 minutes, the time at which the infusion was completed, the magnesium group had a significantly greater percentage of absolute improvement from baseline in each of the following: predicted peak expiratory flow rate (8.6% vs 0.3%, P<. 001), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (7.0% vs 0.2%,P<.001), and forced vital capacity (7.3% vs -0.7%, P<.001). The improvement was greater at 110 minutes: peak expiratory flow rate (25.8% vs 1.9%, P<.001), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (24.1% vs 2.3%; P<. 001), and forced vital capacity (27.3% vs 2.6%, P<.001). Patients who received intravenous magnesium were more likely to be discharged to their homes than those who received the placebo (8/16 vs 0/14; P=. 002).

CONCLUSION:

Children treated with 40 mg/kg of intravenous magnesium sulfate for moderate to severe asthma showed remarkable improvement in short-term pulmonary function.

• Authors: L Ciarallo, D Brousseau, S Reinert
• Journal: Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med) Vol. 154 Issue 10 Pg. 979-83 (Oct 2000) ISSN: 1072-4710 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11030848 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Calcium Channel Blockers
• Magnesium Sulfate

Topics

• Adolescent
• Asthma (classification, diagnosis, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Calcium Channel Blockers (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Child
• Double-Blind Method
• Emergency Treatment (methods)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Forced Expiratory Volume (drug effects)
• Humans
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Magnesium Sulfate (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Male
• Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (drug effects)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Time Factors
• Vital Capacity (drug effects)