Effectiveness of inhaled furosemide for acute asthma exacerbation: a meta-analysis

Table 1 Trial characteristics

			Furosemide group		Placebo group
Study (year)	Number of randomized patients	Number of patients completing study	Mean patient age (years)	Number of patients (male)	Mean patient age (years)	Number of patients (male)	Smoking	COPD	β-agonist dose	Inhaled furosemide dose	Expiratory airflow assessment time (minutes)	Spirometry measurement used	Severity	Hydrocortisone (mg)
Alshehri and colleagues, 2005 [5]	39	39	8.4	19 (11)	8.5	20 (9)	N/A^a	N/A^a	0.15 mg/kg	1.0 mg/kg	30	PEFR, FEV1.0	Moderate	N/A
González-Sánchez and colleagues, 2002 [4]	20	20	9.8	10 (7)	10	10 (5)	N/A^a	N/A^a	0.15 mg/kg	1.0 mg/kg	30, 60	FEV1.0	Mild or moderate	N/A
Nannini and colleagues, 1992 [1]	20	16	31	7 (N/A)	41	9 (N/A)	N/A	N/A	2.5 mg	40 mg	15, 30	PEFR	N/A	N/A
Nuhoğlu and colleagues, 2006 [3]	32	32	8.6	16 (8)	8.4	16 (12)	N/A^a	N/A^a	0.15 mg/kg	10 mg/m²	N/A	PEFR	Mild or moderate	N/A
Ono and colleagues, 1997^b [6]	37	37	47	20 (7)	41	17 (8)	N/A	Exclude	N/A	20 mg	30, 60	PEFR, FEV1.0	Mild to severe	100
Pendino and colleagues, 1998^c [2]	42	42	38	6 (N/A)	34	8 (N/A)	Not >10 pack-years	Exclude	2.5 mg	40 mg	15, 30	PEFR	Mild or moderate	300

COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV1.0, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; N/A, not available; PEFR, peak expiratory flow rate. ^aSmoking and COPD histories were not available, although no smoking or COPD history was assumed because patients were children. ^bCombination treatment in all trials was simultaneous administration of a beta-agonist plus furosemide, except for Ono and colleagues, in which patients in both groups received hydrocortisone succinate and aminophylline, followed 30 minutes later by either furosemide or placebo. ^cOnly subgroup data (pertaining to patients whose exacerbations lasted <8 hours) were available.

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