| Study | Location | Year | Participants
(Age; Number) |
Randomisation groups | Outcomes measured | Results |
| Alansari(36) | Qatar | 2015 | 2-14y; n=365 | Intervention: NMS (800mg) & BA & IB
Control: Saline & BA & IB |
Readiness for discharge, Mg levels | Shortened time to reach readiness for discharge with NMS (NS); increased Mg levels |
| Aggarwal(26) | India | 2006 | 13-60y; n=100 | Intervention: NMS (1ml, 500mg) & BA – 3 doses 20 mins apart
Control: BA – 3 doses 20 mins apart |
PEFR, admissions, physiological parameters, Mg levels | Improved PEFR in both groups (no difference between groups); no change in Mg level |
| Ashtekar(28) | UK | 2008 | 2-16y; n=17 | Intervention: NMS (2.5ml) & BA & IB – 3 doses 20 mins apart
Control: BA & IB – 3 doses 20 mins apart |
Asthma severity score, LOS | No significant effect |
| Badawy(37) | USA | 2016 | 7-18y; n=50 | Intervention: BA & NMS (22ml, 880mg) – over 1 hour
Control: BA & saline – over 1 hour |
FEV1, Paediatric asthma severity score, LOS | Awaited |
| Dadhich(30) | India | 2003 | Age unknown; n=71 | Intervention 1: NMS
Intervention 2: NMS & BA Control: BA (doses not given) |
PEFR, FEV1, FVC, physiological parameters | Improved lung function with NMS (NS); greatest effect if PEFR <50%; no change in parameters |
| Daengsuwan(38) | Thailand | 2016 | 2-15y; n=40 | Intervention: NMS (2.5ml, 150mg) – 3 doses 20 minutes apart
Control: IV magnesium sulphate (50mg/kg) over 20 minutes |
Asthma severity score, LOS | Awaited |
| Drobina(31) | USA | 2006 | 12-60y; n=110 | Intervention: NMS (150mg) & BA & IB
Control: BA & IB |
PEFR | Improved PEFR in both groups; trend toward greater improvement with NMS (NS) |
| Goodacre(39) | UK | 2013 | >16y; n=1109 | Intervention 1: IV magnesium sulphate (2g) & BA
Intervention 2: NMS (500mg) & BA – 3 doses 20 minutes apart Control: BA |
Admission rate (7 days), breathlessness using 100mm visual analogue scale (VAS) | No difference in 7-day admission rate with NMS; trend toward improved VAS vs placebo with NMS (NS) |
| Hughes(40) | New Zealand | 2003 | 16-65y; n=52 | Intervention: NMS (2.5ml; 151mg) & BA – 3 doses 30 minutes apart
Control: BA & saline – 3 doses 30 minutes apart |
FEV1 | Improved FEV1 with NMS |
| Khashabi(27) | Iran | 2008 | Mean age 3.55y; n=40 | Intervention: NMS (2.5ml) & BA
Control: Saline & BA |
Respiratory distress score, LOS, length of O2 requirement | Reduced duration of O2 requirement; trend toward improved respiratory distress score & shorter LOS with NMS (both NS) |
| Mahajan(25) | USA | 2004 | 5-17y; n=62 | Intervention: NMS (2.5ml) & BA
Control: Saline & BA |
FEV1, admission rate | Improved FEV1 with NMS; no difference in admission rate |
| Mangat(23) | India | 1998 | 12-60y; n=33 | Intervention: NMS (3ml) – 4 doses 20 minutes apart
Control: BA – 4 doses 20 minutes apart |
Fischl index, PEFR | Improved Fischl index & PEFR in both groups (no difference between groups) |
| Meral(24) | Turkey | 1996 | Mean age 10.6-11y; n=40 | Intervention: NMS (2ml)
Control: BA |
Davis-Leffert-Dabbous respiratory distress score, PEFR | Improved score & PEFR in both groups (no difference between groups); effect persisted for 6h in control & 1h with NMS |
| Mohammadzadeh(41) | Iran | 2014 | Children – ages unknown; n=80 | Intervention: NMS & BA – up to 3 doses every 20 minutes
Control: BA & saline – up to 3 doses every 20 minutes |
Mean pulmonary index, PEFR | NMS group had significantly better pulmonary index & PEFR at 90 mins |
| Neki(29) | India | 2006 | 15-60y; n=40 | Intervention: NMS – 4 doses 20 minutes apart
Control: BA – 4 doses 20 minutes apart |
PEFR, Fischl index | Inferior improvement of PEFR with NMS; trend toward improved Fischl index with NMS (NS) |
| Powell(42) | UK | 2013 | 2-16y; n=508 | Intervention: NMS (2.5ml; 151mg) & BA & IB – 3 doses 20 minutes apart
Control: Saline & BA & IB – 3 doses 20 minutes apart |
Yung Asthma Severity Score (ASS) | Improved ASS with NMS; Greater effect with more severe exacerbation & shorter duration of symptoms (<6h) |
| Saucedo(43) | Mexico | 2016 | 2-15y; n=152 | Intervention: NMS (2.5ml, 150mg) & BA & IB – every 20 minutes for 1st hour, then hourly as required
Control: Saline & BA & IB – every 20 minutes for 1st hour, then hourly as required |
PRAM, O2 saturations, admission rate, clinical parameters | Awaited |
| Schuh(44) | Canada | Closes 2017 | 2-17y; n=816 | Intervention: NMS (600mg) & BA – 3 doses 20 minutes apart
Control: BA & saline – 3 doses 20 minutes apart |
Hospitalisation rate, change in PRAM, BA requirement | Awaited |
| Watanathan(45) | Thailand | 2015 | Mean age 5.5y; n=12 | Intervention 1: NMS
Intervention 2: IV magnesium sulphate (doses not given; no obvious control) |
Wood asthma severity score. LOS | No significant difference between groups |