title: Lack of efficacy of nebulized magnesium sulfate in treating adult asthma: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: Nebulized magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) has been used to treat asthma, but the efficacy remains controversial. We aimed to comprehensively review the efficacy of nebulized MgSO4in treating adult patients with asthma.
  
  
  
  PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies published up to July 18, 2016. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included if adult patients with acute or stable asthma had been treated with nebulized MgSO4compared with placebo or another bronchodilator. Standardized mean differences (SMDs), relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Outcomes included pulmonary function, hospital admission and adverse events.
  
  
  
  A total of 1386 patients from sixteen trials (1240 acute asthma patients and 146 stable asthma patients) were subjected to meta-analysis. Compared to placebo as normal saline, whether using in acute or stable adult asthma, nebulized MgSO4did not significantly improve the respiratory function: SMD 0.39 (95% CI -0.03-0.82, P = 0.07), and 1.48 (95% CI -0.14-3.11, P = 0.07), respectively. Furthermore, nebulized MgSO4did not reduce hospital admission in adult patients with acute asthma (RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.52-1.00; P = 0.05), although it was not associated with increased adverse events (RR 1.15; 95% CI, 0.88-1.52; P = 0.31).
  
  
  
  Evidence to date suggests that nebulized MgSO4has no role in the management of adult patients with acute or stable asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 545005 Liuzhou, China. Electronic address: lzg228@163.com.
authors.forename: Zhou-Gui
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.affiliation: Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 530021 Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 530021 Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 545005 Liuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-Ming
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 545005 Liuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 530021 Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate
keywords: Asthma; Bronchodilator; Magnesium sulfate (PubChem CID: 24083); Nebulized magnesium sulfate; Randomized controlled trial