Antigen Bronchial Challenge and Efficacy after 4 Weeks of Treatment with Ketotifen and Disodium Cromoglycate

Abstract

Oral ketotifen (Zaditen®) 1 mg twice daily was compared with inhaled disodium cromoglycate (DSCG; Lomudal®) 20 mg four times a day in an open study with two matched groups of patients treated for protection against allergen-induced bronchoconstriction. 9 patients were treated with ketotifen and 9 patients with DSCG for 4 weeks. The comparison of the differences between the mean values at provocation, at the start of the study, and after a 4-week drug treatment shows that the drugs are equally effective on the forced expiratory volume at 1 s. Ketotifen is less effective on the vital capacity than DSCG. Patients’ and investigator’s assessment of tolerability and efficacy of the two therapies were similar. It is concluded that ketotifen is as effective as DSCG in protecting asthmatic patients antigen bronchial challenge and is tolerated as well as DSCG

Does regular treatment with ketotifen inhibit bronchoconstriction induced by isocapnic hyperventilation?

“…Ketotifen is a benzocycloheptathiophene derivative which is a potent antihistamine in vivo (Craps et al, 1978;Esau et al, 1984) and has been shown to act as a mast cell stabilizer in vitro (Martin & Romer, 1977). Several studies have demonstrated inhibition by ketotifen ofhistamineinduced (Craps et al, 1978) and allergen-induced (Craps et al, 1978;Palmen, 1983) bronchoconstriction, but reports of its efficacy in exerciseinduced asthma (EIA) are conflicting (Craps et al, 1978;Dorward & Patel, 1982;Petheram et al, 1981;Kennedy etal., 1980;Lilja etal., 1983). Most of these studies were performed after 3 weeks or less of treatment with ketotifen and it has been suggested that the maximum effect may not be achieved until 5 weeks after treatment has been commenced (Gobel, 1978).…”