title: The adjunctive effect of nebulized furosemide in COPD exacerbation: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of nebulized furosemide as an adjunct to the conventional treatment of patients with COPD exacerbation in an emergency department.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized double-blinded clinical trial, patients with COPD exacerbation were randomized to receive 40 mg nebulized furosemide or placebo as an adjunct to the conventional treatments. We recorded changes in dyspnea severity (measured with a visual analog scale), FEV1, arterial blood gas measurements, blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing frequency at baseline and 1 hour after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We randomized 100 patients, whose mean age was 73.1 ± 8.7 y. The measured variables all improved significantly in both groups. FEV1, dyspnea, pH, mean blood pressure, and heart rate improved significantly more in the furosemide group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nebulized furosemide benefits patients with COPD exacerbation.
authors: Emergency Department, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Hojat
authors: H
authors: Sheikh Motahar Vahedi
authors: Babak
authors: B
authors: Mahshidfar
authors: Helaleh
authors: H
authors: Rabiee
authors: Soheil
authors: S
authors: Saadat
authors: Hamid
authors: H
authors: Shokoohi
authors: Mojtaba
authors: M
authors: Chardoli
authors: Vafa
authors: V
authors: Rahimi-Movaghar
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D005665:Furosemide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D005665:Furosemide
keywords: COPD; arterial blood gas; bronchodilation; dyspnea; nebulized furosemide