RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF AMINOPHYLLINE FOR SEVERE ACUTE ASTHMA

Objectives-To determine whether children with severe acute asthma trea ted with large doses of inhaled salbutamol, inhaled ipratropium, and i ntravenous steroids are conferred any further benefits by the addition of aminophylline given intravenously. Study design-Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial of 163 children admitted to hospital with asthma who were unresponsive to nebulised salbutamol. Results-The placebo and treatment groups of children were similar at baseline. Th e 48 children in the aminophylline group had a greater improvement in spirometry at six hours and a higher oxygen saturation in the first 30 hours. Five subjects in the placebo group were intubated and ventilat ed after enrolment compared with none in the aminophylline group. Conc lusions-Aminophylline continues to have a place in the management of s evere acute asthma in children unresponsive to initial treatment.