Asthma Article

[Guest guest]

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/443365

Medscape Medical News

Magnesium Plus Albuterol More Effective Than Albuterol Alone in Asthma

Oct. 21, 2002 (Boston) — A combination of nebulized albuterol and

magnesium is more effective than albuterol alone for children with mild

to moderate asthma, according to a study presented at the American

Academy of Pediatrics National Conference on Friday.

Some studies have indicated that intravenous magnesium sulfate combined

with other bronchodilating agents can be beneficial to patients who

arrive at the emergency department with severe acute asthma. However,

less is known about nebulized magnesium. So far two studies have looked

at the use of nebulized magnesium and albuterol in adults, said Prashant

Mahajan, MD, of the Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit. " The

studies have shown equivocal results, " he said.

Dr. Mahajan's study, however, is the first to look at the effect of

nebulized magnesium combined with albuterol in children.

Mahajan and his team designed a randomized, double-blinded study to

compare two fast acting regimens in 62 patients who arrived at the

Children's Hospital emergency department. Half of the group, aged 5 to

17 years, received a single dose of albuterol plus a dose of magnesium

sulfate, while the control group received only albuterol. The doctors

then measured the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in the

two groups. At 20 minutes, the children who received magnesium combined

with albuterol had a 15.5% improvement in lung function compared with an

8.4% increase in lung function in the children who received albuterol

alone.

The results indicate that the addition of magnesium sulfate to albuterol

is of benefit to young asthma patients, Dr. Maharani said. However, his

study did not test whether the improved FEV1 will translate into

improved outcomes for asthma patients. He and his team are now preparing

a follow-up study, which will use hospitalization, rather than lung

function, as a measure of the treatment's efficacy.

The results sound promising so far to A. Smart, MD, an asthma

specialist with the DuPage Medical Group in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and a

fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

" It seems that magnesium sulfate added to beta2-agonists may be useful

for sick patients who present in distress, " he said.

However, he does not think there is enough evidence supporting the use

of magnesium sulfate during routine office visits.

AAP National Conference: Abstract 29. Presented Oct. 18, 2002.

Reviewed by D. Vogin, MD

Becki

YOUR FAVORITE LilGooberGirl

YOUNGLUNG EMAIL SUPPORT LIST

www.topica.com/lists/younglung

Pediatric Interstitial Lung Disease Society

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/InterstitialLung_Kids/