STUDY OF SERUM MAGNESIUM AND OTHER ELECTROLYTES IN PATIENTS OF ACUTE SEVERE ASTHMA RECEIVING PARENTERAL ΒETA ADERENERGIC AGONISTS

Abstract

Asthma is a very common disease with immense social impact. Its acute exacerbations are commonly treated with salbutamol. The study intends  to determine  the magnitude  of  changes  in  serum  magnesium,  potassium, phosphate  and  calcium during  treatment  of  acute  severe  asthma  with  parenteral salbutamol. This   is  a prospective  study  comprising  of  80  patients  who  presented  to casualty with symptoms  of  acute  severe  asthma  and  met  the  inclusion  criteria. Baseline serum magnesium, potassium, phosphate and calcium levels were measured. Nebulised salbutamol was administered every thirty minutes till symptoms subsided. After 80 minutes, repeat serum levels of electrolytes were determined. Treatment followed with Parenteral salbutamol administration during the emergency treatment of acute severe asthma   is   associated   with statistically   significant   decreases   in   serum magnesium, potassium, and phosphate levels. It is also associated with decrease in serum calcium levels, although the decrease was not statistically significant. The mechanism and clinical significance of these findings are currently unknown and warrant further study.