title: Levosalbutamol vs racemic salbutamol in the treatment of acute exacerbation of asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare efficacy and tolerability of levosalbutamol (Group 1) and racemic salbutamol (Group 2) for the treatment of acute exacerbation of asthma in children age 5 to 18 yr.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized double blind clinical study involving 60 children was undertaken between October' 06 to December' 07.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following baseline clinical characteristic were recorded initially and after giving 3 nebulizations at 20 min intervals in the Ist hour of presentation viz respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation in room air SPO2, PEFR (peak expiratory flow rate), serum K+ level and asthma score. In Group 1 patients (levosalbutamol), there was significant increment in SPO2 and PEFR (P<0.05) values with decrease in tachypnea and asthma score while no significant difference was found in pre and post treatment HR & Serum K+ levels. In Group 2 patients although there was clinical improvement in terms of SPO2, PEFR, RR and asthma score, it resulted in significant tachycardia and decrease in K+ levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levosalbutamol appears to be more efficacious than racemic salbutamol in terms of improvement in PEFR, SPO2 and asthma score while deleterious effects of tachycardia and fall in serum K+ were seen with racemic salbutamol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Subharti Institute of Medical Sciences, Meerut, U.P., India. punj.ajay@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Punj
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: Ashu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhasin
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D000420:Albuterol; D011188:Potassium