Evaluation Of Clinical And Peak Flow Metric Effect Of Intravenous Glucagon On Treatment Of Acute Severe Asthma Attack

This study is aimed to evaluate the effect of glucagon on the treatment of severe asthma attack.

20 patients, 18 to 55 years, presenting to ED with asthma attack will be evaluated by physician. Their clinical status, vital sign, blood glucose, PEFR and FEV1 will be recorded. Patients who meet the inclusion criteria will be enrolled the study. All patients will receive the standard treatment of severe asthma attack (5 mg nebulized albuterol every 20 minutes for 3 doses, 0.5 mg ipratropium every 20 minutes for 3 doses, 50 mg oral prednisolone). Patients will be randomly assigned to either intravenous glucagon or a placebo medication (according to random number table).

All patients presenting to ED with asthma attack, considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria and in case of severe attack, in addition to the standard treatment , will randomly receive either 1 mg intravenous glucagon or its equivalent of normal saline. physicians evaluating cases, nurses injecting medication and patients do not know if patients are recieving glucagon or placebo; the medication is prepared by the fourth person. Spirometry will be repeated at 10, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after injection. Blood glucose will be measured again at 20 minutes after intervention. All subjects will be reevaluated clinically after one hour. Ultimately all data gathered will be analyzed.

Inclusion criteria: severe asthma attack, age between 18 and 55 Exclusion criteria: History of diabetes mellitus, smoking, ischemic heart disease, emphysema or chronic bronchitis, insulinoma, pheochromocytoma, current oral or injectable corticosteroids, pregnancy, lactation, need for intubation.

All patients with severe asthma attack will receive the standard treatment (5 mg nebulized albuterol every 20 minutes for 3 doses, 0.5 mg ipratropium every 20 minutes for 3 doses, 50 mg oral prednisolone). In addition to the standard treatment, patients will randomly receive either 1 mg intravenous glucagon or its equivalent of normal saline.

PEFR; FEV1

Ahvaz Jundishapur University Of Medical Science

Table of random numbers

The patients know they are participating in a study that is aimed to evaluate the effect of glucagon on the treatment of severe asthma attack but they are not informed that they receive placebo or glucagon The physician who evaluates the clinical status of patients and the nurse who injects the drug are not aware of the medication that patients receive.