Pharmacologic treatment of the adult hospitalized asthma patient.
Acute severe asthma calls for aggressive and early therapy of a multifaceted and all-inclusive approach (Fig. 2). Therapy merely begins in the ED and manifold distinct issues need to find consideration during ongoing hospital care. Currently, beta-agonists, anti-cholinergic agents, and corticosteroids remain the mainstay of therapy. Methylxanthines and magnesium may find consideration in carefully selected patients. Multiple new therapeutic avenues, such as the anti-leukotriene drugs, seem promising and future studies will hopefully extend our armamentarium against life threatening complication of a common disease. Asthma education begun in the hospital may provide the platform for preventing severe acute exacerbations and hospitalization.
Kreutzer
M L
ML
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of California, Davis, 4150 V Street, Suite 3400, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
Louie
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology