Alansari 2015.

Methods	Double‐blind, randomised controlled trial. 1 Paediatric emergency centre, Qatar.
Participants	Inclusion criteria: moderate/severe asthma exacerbation, age 2‐14 years, previous diagnosis of asthma. Exclusion criteria: prematurity, critical illness needing ICU admission for IV bronchodilator, NIV or invasive ventilation, transfer to other institution, history of hypersensitivity to MgSO₄, history of neuromuscular/cardiac/renal disease, underlying structural lung disease, received systemic steroid/theophylline/ipratropium in prior 72 h, consolidation on chest XR, received IV MgSO₄ before randomisation, prior participation in the study, haemodynamic instability. Number randomised: 400. Intervention: 208 randomised. Mean age (years): 5.6 (3.1). Male:female: 133:75. Moderate:severe: 168:40. Mean baseline asthma severity score: 7.6 (1.3). Control: 192 randomised. Mean age (years): 5.8 (3.1). Male:female: 115:77. Moderate:severe: 163:29. Mean baseline asthma severity score: 7.5 (1.3).
Interventions	Intervention: 800 mg MgSO₄ (15 mL). Control: 15 mL 0.9% NaCl. Medication divided into 3 doses over 1 h. Jet nebuliser.
Outcomes	Time to medical readiness for discharge, mean asthma severity score (4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48 h), mean asthma severity score at discharge, need for revisit or readmission (2 weeks). Adverse events: chest tightness and facial rash (1; intervention group). Excessive cough (1; control group). ICU admission (1; control group).
Notes	Funding: Hamad Medical Corporation; Number: 12095/12
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Computer‐generated randomisation without blocks.
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Randomisation list provided to pharmacy resulted in preparation of identical‐appearing sealed numbered vials.
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	All study personnel were blinded to treatment.
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	All study personnel were blinded to treatment. The paper was not explicit re. outcome assessors ‒ they were assumed to also have been blinded.
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Over 90% completed the trial in both arms. Balanced number were excluded from each arm, with reasons given.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	Prospective trial registration. All listed outcomes are reported.