title: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two urban tertiary care pediatric emergency departments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients, aged 6 to 17.9 years, being treated for an acute asthma exacerbation.
  
  
  METHODS
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children treated with 40 mg/kg of intravenous magnesium sulfate for moderate to severe asthma showed remarkable improvement in short-term pulmonary function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ciarallo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brousseau
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reinert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate