Biomaterial Database

Nebulized magnesium sulfate in the management of acute exacerbations of asthma. 2006

Eric J Villeneuve, and Peter J Zed

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nebulized magnesium sulfate in the treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma. METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed (all to October 2005) were searched using the key words magnesium, magnesium sulfate, magnesium compounds, nebulise, nebulize, vaporise, vaporize, nebulizers and vaporizers, aerosols, asthma, exacerbation, bronchial spasm, and bronchospasm. METHODS Prospective, randomized, controlled trials that evaluated efficacy and safety endpoints of nebulized magnesium sulfate in the management of acute exacerbations of asthma were included. All studies were evaluated independently by both authors. Efficacy outcomes included pulmonary function, clinical disease severity (as defined by each study), and rate of hospitalization. Safety outcomes were as described by each trial. RESULTS Six prospective trials met the study criteria. Nebulized magnesium alone failed to demonstrate any benefit compared with beta(2)-agonists alone at improving pulmonary function. In trials in which nebulized magnesium was used as a vehicle for albuterol, there appear to be additional benefits to albuterol therapy in terms of improvements in pulmonary function in a population with mild-to-moderate asthma. The heterogeneous patient populations, study designs, magnesium doses, and the delivery methods preclude the extrapolation of these results to current clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS The studies included in this review fail to clarify the role of nebulized magnesium sulfate; therefore, this therapy cannot be recommended at this time. Future studies evaluating the role of nebulized magnesium as an adjunct therapy to beta(2)-agonist, anticholinergic, and corticosteroid therapy are necessary to determine whether a clinically relevant benefit of this intervention exists.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008278	Magnesium Sulfate	A small colorless crystal used as an anticonvulsant, a cathartic, and an electrolyte replenisher in the treatment of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. It causes direct inhibition of action potentials in myometrial muscle cells. Excitation and contraction are uncoupled, which decreases the frequency and force of contractions. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1992, p1083)	Magnesium Sulfate, Heptahydrate,Heptahydrate Magnesium Sulfate,Sulfate, Magnesium
D009330	Nebulizers and Vaporizers	Devices that cause a liquid or solid to be converted into an aerosol (spray) or a vapor. It is used in drug administration by inhalation, humidification of ambient air, and in certain analytical instruments.	Atomizers,Inhalation Devices,Inhalators,Inhalers,Vaporizers,Nebulizers,Vaporizers and Nebulizers,Atomizer,Device, Inhalation,Devices, Inhalation,Inhalation Device,Inhalator,Inhaler,Nebulizer,Vaporizer
D002986	Clinical Trials as Topic	Works about pre-planned studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects. This concept includes clinical trials conducted both in the U.S. and in other countries.	Clinical Trial as Topic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000208	Acute Disease	Disease having a short and relatively severe course.	Acute Diseases,Disease, Acute,Diseases, Acute
D000280	Administration, Inhalation	The administration of drugs by the respiratory route. It includes insufflation into the respiratory tract.	Drug Administration, Inhalation,Drug Administration, Respiratory,Drug Aerosol Therapy,Inhalation Drug Administration,Inhalation of Drugs,Respiratory Drug Administration,Aerosol Drug Therapy,Aerosol Therapy, Drug,Drug Therapy, Aerosol,Inhalation Administration,Administration, Inhalation Drug,Administration, Respiratory Drug,Therapy, Aerosol Drug,Therapy, Drug Aerosol
D000336	Aerosols	Colloids with a gaseous dispersing phase and either liquid (fog) or solid (smoke) dispersed phase; used in fumigation or in inhalation therapy; may contain propellant agents.	Aerosol
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001249	Asthma	A form of bronchial disorder with three distinct components: airway hyper-responsiveness (RESPIRATORY HYPERSENSITIVITY), airway INFLAMMATION, and intermittent AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION. It is characterized by spasmodic contraction of airway smooth muscle, WHEEZING, and dyspnea (DYSPNEA, PAROXYSMAL).	Asthma, Bronchial,Bronchial Asthma,Asthmas
D018927	Anti-Asthmatic Agents	Drugs that are used to treat asthma.	Anti-Asthmatic,Anti-Asthmatic Agent,Anti-Asthmatic Drug,Antiasthmatic,Antiasthmatic Agent,Antiasthmatic Drug,Anti-Asthmatic Drugs,Anti-Asthmatics,Antiasthmatic Agents,Antiasthmatic Drugs,Antiasthmatics,Agent, Anti-Asthmatic,Agent, Antiasthmatic,Agents, Anti-Asthmatic,Agents, Antiasthmatic,Anti Asthmatic,Anti Asthmatic Agent,Anti Asthmatic Agents,Anti Asthmatic Drug,Anti Asthmatic Drugs,Anti Asthmatics,Drug, Anti-Asthmatic,Drug, Antiasthmatic,Drugs, Anti-Asthmatic,Drugs, Antiasthmatic