Efficacy of nebulized furosemide in children with moderate attack of asthma.

BACKGROUND

Bronchodilators are the most commonly used drugs for asthma. However, alternative treatment is necessary for those patients who experience adverse effects from bronchodilators.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy of nebulized furosemide in children with moderate asthma exacerbations.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

A double-blind randomized, controlled trial involving three groups of children with moderate attack of asthma. Twenty children were enrolled in group A and received nebulized albuterol, 20 children in group B received nebulized furosemide and 19 children in group C received both albuterol and furosemide. Pulmonary function parameters, peak flow rates, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and clinical scores were obtained before and after treatment.

RESULTS

The maximum increases in FEV1 achieved were 21.1 +/- 4.6 %, 20.8 +/- 3.2 and 21.7 +/- 4.9 in groups A, B and C respectively. The differences between the groups were not significant. Maximum increase in FVC was 20.3 +/- 1.6, 22.5 +/- 5.8 % and 24.5 +/- 4.9 % in groups B and C respectively. The difference between the three groups was not statistically significant. With regards to peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), the mean increase after treatment was 23.5 +/- 8.6% and 21.8 +/- 6.3% in groups A and B respectively. There was significant increase in PEFR in group C children (26.0 +/- 9.1%; p = 0.01). There was no statistical significant difference among the three groups regarding the improvement in respiratory rate, SaO2 and clinical scores.

CONCLUSION

Combination of both furosemide and albuterol led to significant increase in peak flow rate but it did not significantly affect FEV1, FVC, FEF 25-75, respiratory rate, SaO2 or clinical scores as compared to other groups. There were no significant adverse effects from the three drugs used.