The American journal of emergency medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
A comparison of levalbuterol with racemic albuterol in the treatment of acute severe asthma exacerbations in adults.
This multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial compared nebulized levalbuterol (Lev) and racemic albuterol (Rac) in the treatment of acute asthma. ⋯ This study suggests that early, regular nebulized beta(2)-agonist and systemic corticosteroid therapy may reduce hospitalization and relapse rates in patients with acute severe asthma. Lev was well tolerated and compared favorably with Rac in improving airway function, particularly in those who were not on inhaled or oral corticosteroids and in those who had high plasma (S)-albuterol concentrations at presentation.