Yet another trial has confirmed the usefulness of intravenous magnesium therapy as a treatment for severe asthma, according to a new double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Researchers administered a single intravenous dose of magnesium sulphate or a placebo (saline solution) to 30 children (aged 6 to 18 years) experiencing moderate-to-severe exacerbation of their asthma.
Immediately following the infusion, the magnesium group showed a marked improvement, according to all measurements. The improvement was even greater 110 minutes after treatment.
In addition, 50 per cent of the patients who received intravenous magnesium were discharged to their homes compared with none of those who received the placebo (Obstet Gynecol, 2002; 100; 226-9).