Abstract: ObjectiveTo systemically review the efficacy and safety of magnesium sulfate for asthma. MethodsSuch databases as Pubmed， Cochrane Library， CNKI， VIP from inception to January 2016 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning magnesium sulfate and montelukast for adult asthma. Two reviewers screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria， extracted  data， and assessed methodological quality of included studies. Then metaanalysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsA total of 12 RCTs involving 1 992  patients were included. The results of metaanalysis showed that  magnesium sulfate and montelukast had higher remission rate of clinical signs compared with control group(OR=5.50， 95%CI=3.738.11，P<0.01). And magnesium sulfate and montelukast could significantly reduce the relief time of cough (SMD=-1.66， 95%CI= -1.92-1.40，P<0.01)， gasp (SMD=-1.42， 95%CI=-1.68-1.16，P<0.01)， chest congestion (SMD=-1.54， 95%CI=-1.73-1.34，P<0.01). Compared with control group， magnesium sulfate and montelukast could obviously reduce the recurrence rate of asthma (OR=0.26， 95% CI=0.150.43，P<0.01). And magnesium sulfate and montelukast could significantly improve lung function index: PEF (SMD=0.85， 95%CI=0.111.59，P<0.01)， FEV1% (SMD=7.65， 95%CI=2.6012.71，P<0.01)， FEV1/FVC% (SMD=6.31， 95%CI=5.477.14，P<0.01). Magnesium sulfate and montelukast could cause more adverse drug reactions (OR=4.43， 95%CI=1.8710.49，P=0.0007). Funnel plot of the remission rate of clinical signs is asymmetric that indicates publication bias. ConclusionMagnesium sulfate and montelukast can obviously improve the clinical signs， pulmonary function of patients with asthma， and reduce the recurrence rate, but increase adverse drug reactions. Due to limited quantity and quality of the included studies， the above conclusion should be further verified by conducting more high quality， large scale， multicentre RCTs.

Key words: asthma, montelukast, magnesium sulfate, metaanalysis