Therapy

• magnesium sulphate (1.0 to 1.2 g intravenously over 30 minutes) ^a  

Why?

• It reduces hospital admissions and improves predicted PEFR (on average by 17%) in severe cases, though not in mild-moderate ones. ^a

Magnesium sulphate helps prevent hospital admissions in severe cases

Patient	Treatment	Comparison	Outcome	CER	OR (95% CI)	NNT (95% CI)
acute severe asthma a	magnesium sulphate	placebo	hospital admission at	91%	0.10 (0.04 to 0.27)	2 (2 to 5)