| Methods |
Randomisation: The vials were filled by a pharmacist at a remote site according to random sequence.
Blinding: "double blinded" ‐ similar appearance of treatment and placebo.
Number excluded: not reported.
Withdrawals: not reported.
Baseline characteristics: no imbalances demonstrated. |
| Participants |
Location: Adult ED in Hartford, USA.
Participants: Patients =>18 ys, acute exacerbation of asthma, no underlying medical conditions
Asthma definition and severity: hetereogenous population.
Exclusion criteria: Patients using steroid medication within 2 weeks of presentation, ED MD diagnosis of chronic bronchitis or emphysema. |
| Interventions |
Intervention: within 30 minutes of arrival, 125 mg of IV methylprednisolone (MP) diluted to 3 ml with saline.
Control: Identical 3 ml of saline IV.
Co‐interventions: Each patient was treated as indicated, with subcutaneous epinephrine or terbutaline, oxygen, metaproterenol sulfate (administered as an aerosol), and intravenous aminophylline.
Cross‐over: not permitted. |
| Outcomes |
Admission: no criteria; physician determined.
Symptom scores: mild, moderate, severe.
PEFRs: FVC, FEV‐1.
Adverse effects: "toxicity" but not defined.
Timing: assessment made at 4 hours.
Follow‐up: relapse at 1 week. |
| Notes |
Jadad score:
No response from the author. |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment? |
Low risk |
The vials were filled by a pharmacist at a remote site according to random sequence. |
