Evaluation of Intravenous Therapies for Asthma
Research type
Research Study
Full title
EValuation of Intravenous Therapy in Asthma (EVITA): a randomised trial of aminophylline, magnesium sulfate or salbutamol intravenous therapy for acute severe asthma in children and young people
IRAS ID
1009438
Contact name
Graham Roberts
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
Asthma is a common lung condition that causes breathing problems causing shortness of breath and a tight chest. Many children and young people (CYP) have severe asthma attacks which do not respond to inhaled reliever medication. Hospital treatment may be needed with medication given as an injection into a vein (i.e. intravenously). Three injection medications are currently used in the UK: aminophylline, magnesium sulfate or salbutamol. Although all three are highly effective at treating asthma attacks, doctors are not sure which works the best. Severe asthma attacks in CYP are a common medical emergency so it is important that the most effective and most acceptable injection treatment is used.
The EVITA trial (funded by NIHR) will compare the three injection medications (aminophylline, magnesium sulfate or salbutamol) and determine which is best at treating severe asthma attacks in CYP. All trial participants will be having a severe asthma attack and not getting better with inhaled medications so will be classed as a medical emergency. All eligible patients will be entered into the trial upon assessment of their condition. Everyone taking part in the research trial will have an equal chance of receiving one of the three medications. All the participants and their trial teams will know which treatment they have been given within the trial. Overall, we aim to recruit 357 CYP (aged 2-18 years) from up to 20 acute UK hospital sites. Depending on the site, this may be an emergency department or acute assessment unit.
We will look at which CYP get better more quickly by using a validated asthma severity score, measure how long CYP stay in hospital and compare the side effects of each treatment. Some patients, parents and healthcare staff will be interviewed to understand how they feel about the treatment they received. Participants will be followed up for 30 or 45 days, depending on whether they take part in an optional interview. The trial will last for three years.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/YH/0152
Date of REC Opinion
15 Sep 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion