Pulmonary function parameters in asthma patients receiving oral ketotifen

Ketotifen, an antianaphylactic and antihistamine drug was given orally to 31 asthma patients who had significant airflow limitation (mean FEV1% FVC = 65.1). 19 patients had extrinsic asthma and 12 patients had intrinsic asthma. Ketotifen was given in a dose of 1 mg twice daily for 16 weeks. At the end of this period, concomitant medication, frequency and severity of asthma attacks and mean lung function test results were analysed. The number of acute asthmatic attacks were reduced significantly from a mean of 7.1 attacks/week before treatment to 0.28 attacks/week after 16 weeks of treatment (P less than 0.001). The severity of attacks and the need to use concomitant bronchodilators agents were also reduced. Lung function improved following oral ketotifen administration as indicated by changes in FVC, FEV1, FEV1% FVC and PEF. FVC increased insignificantly (18.64 ml/week, P less than 0.3), while FEV1, FEV1% FVC and PEF improved significantly (33.45 ml/week, 0.76%/week and 5.52 l/min/week respectively, P less than 0.01). It was concluded that the relief which is often observed in patients suffering from bronchial asthma on ketotifen therapy is associated with an improvement in the lung function. Hence, ketotifen is effective in the prophylaxis of both extrinsic and intrinsic asthma.