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Clinical Trial
. 1992 Mar;21(3):260-5.
doi: 10.1016/s0196-0644(05)80885-6.

Intravenous magnesium for acute asthma: failure to decrease emergency treatment duration or need for hospitalization

S M Green  1 , S G Rothrock
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Intravenous magnesium for acute asthma: failure to decrease emergency treatment duration or need for hospitalization

S M Green et al. Ann Emerg Med. 1992 Mar.

Abstract

Study objective: To evaluate the efficacy of routine early administration of i.v. magnesium to patients with acute asthma.

Design: Prospective, randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Urban teaching hospital emergency department.

Type of participants: One hundred twenty consecutive patients aged 18 to 65 years with acute asthma unresponsive to a single albuterol treatment.

Interventions: All patients received oxygen, 125 mg i.v. methylprednisolone, and hourly albuterol inhalation therapy. The study group also received 2 g i.v. magnesium sulfate infused over 20 minutes.

Measurements and main results: Demographic and clinical characteristics were similar in both groups. Hospitalization was necessary in 13 of 58 patients who received magnesium (22%; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 13% to 32%) and 11 of 62 control patients (17%; 95% CI 10% to 26%; P = .523). Duration of ED treatment in discharged patients was 224 +/- 75 minutes in the magnesium group (95% CI, 208 to 240 minutes) and 228 +/- 90 minutes in the control group (95% CI, 209 to 247 minutes, P = .832). In addition, changes in peak expiratory flow were not statistically different.

Conclusion: Routine early administration of IV magnesium in acute asthma does not alter treatment outcome.

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Comment in

  • Intravenous magnesium for acute asthma.
    Fesmire FM. Fesmire FM. Ann Emerg Med. 1993 Mar;22(3):616-7; author reply 618-9. doi: 10.1016/s0196-0644(05)81957-2. Ann Emerg Med. 1993. PMID: 8442557 No abstract available.
  • Intravenous magnesium for acute asthma.
    Pugh G. Pugh G. Ann Emerg Med. 1993 Mar;22(3):617; author reply 618-9. doi: 10.1016/s0196-0644(05)81959-6. Ann Emerg Med. 1993. PMID: 8442558 Clinical Trial. No abstract available.
  • Intravenous magnesium for acute asthma.
    Spivey WH. Spivey WH. Ann Emerg Med. 1993 Mar;22(3):617; author reply 618-9. doi: 10.1016/s0196-0644(05)81958-4. Ann Emerg Med. 1993. PMID: 8442559 Clinical Trial. No abstract available.
  • Intravenous magnesium for acute asthma.
    Skobeloff EM, McNamara RM. Skobeloff EM, et al. Ann Emerg Med. 1993 Mar;22(3):617-8; author reply 618-9. doi: 10.1016/s0196-0644(05)81960-2. Ann Emerg Med. 1993. PMID: 8442560 No abstract available.
  • Intravenous magnesium for acute asthma.
    Jones EB, Gonzalez ER. Jones EB, et al. Ann Emerg Med. 1993 Mar;22(3):618; author reply 618-9. doi: 10.1016/s0196-0644(05)81961-4. Ann Emerg Med. 1993. PMID: 8442561 No abstract available.

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