The efficacy of nebulized magnesium sulfate alone and in combination with salbutamol in acute asthma

Figures & data

Table 1 Three groups of asthmatic patients

Characteristics of group	Group A	Group B	Group C
Number of patients	10	10	10
Nebulized bronchodilator	MgSO4	Salbutamol + isotonic saline	Salbutamol + MgSO4
Dosing frequency	4	4	4
Dosing interval (min)	20	20	20
Dose	3 mL MgSO4	0.5 mL salbutamol	0.5 mL salbutamol
	(3.3% solution, 100 mg)	(0.5% solution, 2.5 mg) diluted in 2.5 mL isotonic saline	(0.5% solution, 2.5 mg) Diluted in 2.5 mL MgSO4 (4% solution, 100 mg)

Abbreviations: MgSO₄, magnesium sulfate; min, minutes.

Table 2 Baseline characteristics of patients

Parameters	MgSO4	Saline–salbutamol	MgSO4–salbutamol	P-value
Age (years)	33.5±17.8	48.6±9.9	51.3±15.8	0.027
Sex (n/%)				0.272
Male	4 (40)	3 (30)	7 (70)
Female	6 (60)	7 (70)	3 (30)
Height (cm)	158.7±6.2	165.2±9.3	172.4±8.0	0.003
Weight (kg)	78.2±14.7	89±16.5	101.8±13.7	0.006
Duration of asthma (years)	22.2±16.6	33.1±11.7	35.9±15.5	0.110
Accessory muscle use (n/%)	3 (30)	7 (70)	4 (40)	0.272
PEFR (L/min)	159±42.0	182±63.0	184±52.5	0.514
PEFR (% pred)	33.9±9.8	36.4±10.5	34.1±9.4	0.827
SO2 (%)	95.3±3.0	96.2±2.2	95.9±2.6	0.745
RR (breaths/min)	22.6±3.8	23.6±6.2	27.0±7.6	0.260
HR (beats/min)	95.1±12.3	85.4±14.0	95.9±11.8	0.144
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	114±12.6	116±15.7	120±13.3	0.626
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	79.0±8.7	78.5±9.4	81.0±7.3	0.790
PP (mmHg)	14.6±4.4	16.1±3.3	13.9±3.8	0.441
Fischl index	3.1±1.1	3.6±1.1	3.4±1.5	0.691

Notes: Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation or number and percentage of cases (n/%). P<0.05 is statistically significant.

Abbreviations: HR, heart rate; MgSO₄, magnesium sulfate; min, minutes; % pred, percentage predicted; PEFR, peak expiratory flow rate; RR, respiratory rate; PP, pulsus paradoxus; SO₂, oxygen saturation.

Table 3 Different parameters after treatment

Parameters	MgSO4	Saline–salbutamol	MgSO4–salbutamol	P-value
SO2 (%)	95.5±2.6	96.2±2.2	96.0±2.4	0.807
RR (breaths/min)	17.5±3.1	19.5±4.6	21.8±6.5	0.175
HR (beats/min)	90.8±11.3	69.6±32.0	92.2±11.1	0.121
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	109.0±12.2	111.0±13.2	114.5±12.5	0.624
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	78.5±8.1	77.0±8.2	79.0±7.7	0.847
PP (mmHg)	8.1±2.3	8.5±1.9	8.2±1.8	0.902

Notes: Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. P<0.05 is statistically significant.

Abbreviations: HR, heart rate; MgSO₄, magnesium sulfate; min, minutes; RR, respiratory rate; PP, pulsus paradoxus; SO₂, oxygen saturation.

Table 4 Response in peak expiratory flow and Fischl index after treatment

Parameters	MgSO4	Saline–salbutamol	MgSO4–salbutamol	P-value
PEFR (L/min)	213.0±45.7	249.0±75.0	276.0±50.8	0.072
PEFR (% pred)	45.4±11.0	49.6±10.3	51.2±9.8	0.451
Fischl index	0.10±0.31	0.30±0.48	0.00±0.00	0.142
PEFR improvement (L/min)	54.0±35.6	67.0±41.9	92.0±26.9	0.068
PEFR percentage improvement	11.5±7.7	13.2±7.7	17.1±5.4	0.215
Fischl index improvement	3.0±1.2	3.3±1.0	3.4±1.5	0.779

Notes: Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. P<0.05 is statistically significant.

Abbreviations: MgSO₄, magnesium sulfate; min, minutes; % pred, percentage predicted; PEFR, peak expiratory flow rate.

Table 5 Changes in various parameters in MgSO₄ group

Parameters	Basal	Final	P-value
SO2 (%)	95.3±3.0	95.5±2.6	0.168
RR (breaths/min)	22.6±3.8	17.5±3.	0.000
HR (beats/min)	95.1±12.3	90.8±11.3	0.000
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	114±12.6	109.0±12.2	0.008
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	79.0±8.7	78.5±8.1	0.343
PP (mmHg)	14.6±4.4	8.1±2.3	0.000
PEFR (L/min)	159±42.0	213.0±45.7	0.001
PEFR (% pred)	33.9±9.8	45.4±11.0	0.001
Fischl index	3.1±1.1	0.10±0.31	0.000

Notes: Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. P<0.05 is statistically significant.

Abbreviations: HR, heart rate; MgSO₄, magnesium sulfate; min, minutes; % pred, percentage predicted; PEFR, peak expiratory flow rate; RR, respiratory rate; PP, pulsus paradoxus; SO₂, oxygen saturation.

Table 6 Changes in various parameters in salbutamol group

Parameters	Basal	Final	P-value
SO2 (%)	96.2±2.2	96.2±2.2	1
RR (breaths/min)	23.6±6.2	19.5±4.6	0.000
HR (beats/min)	85.4±14.0	69.6±32.0	0.000
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	116±15.7	111.0±13.2	0.004
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	78.5±9.4	77.0±8.2	0.081
PP (mmHg)	16.1±3.3	8.5±1.9	0.000
PEFR (L/min)	182±63.0	249.0±75.0	0.001
PEFR (% pred)	36.4±10.5	49.6±10.3	0.000
Fischl index	3.6±1.1	0.30±0.48	0.000

Notes: Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. P<0.05 is statistically significant.

Abbreviations: HR, heart rate; min, minutes; % pred, percentage predicted; PEFR, peak expiratory flow rate; RR, respiratory rate; PP, pulsus paradoxus; SO₂, oxygen saturation.

Table 7 Changes in various parameters in MgSO₄–salbutamol group

Parameters	Basal	Final	P-value
SO2 (%)	95.9±2.6	96.0±2.4	0.343
RR (breaths/min)	27.0±7.6	21.8±6.5	0.000
HR (beats/min)	95.9±11.8	92.2±11.1	0.000
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	120±13.3	114.5±12.5	0.007
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	81.0±7.3	79.0±7.7	0.104
PP (mmHg)	13.9±3.8	8.2±1.8	0.000
PEFR (L/min)	184±52.5	276.0±50.8	0.000
PEFR (% pred)	34.1±9.4	51.2±9.8	0.000
Fischl index	3.4±1.5	0.00±0.00	0.000

Notes: Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. P<0.05 is statistically significant.

Abbreviations: HR, heart rate; MgSO₄, magnesium sulfate; min, minutes; % pred, percentage predicted; PEFR, peak expiratory flow rate; RR, respiratory rate; PP, pulsus paradoxus; SO₂, oxygen saturation.