Treatment of Status Asthmaticus in Children With High Doses and Conventional Doses of Methylprednisolone

Abstract

Children (21) who were admitted to the hospital with status asthmaticus were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 groups. Children in group A received methylprednisolone sodium succinate i.v., 30 mg/m2 every 6 h (conventional dose), and those in group B received methylprednisolone sodium succinate i.v., 300 mg/m2 every 6 h, until they were no longer wheezing, or for a maximum of 4 days. There were no significant differences in the outcome between the 2 groups. Apparently there is no extra advantage in giving massive doses of corticosteroids over conventional doses in the treatment of severe asthma attacks.