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Effect of ketotifen on childhood asthma: a double-blind study
C Mylona-Karayanni1, D Hadziargurou, G Liapi-Adamidou
1Second Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Greece.
Insights
Ketotifen significantly improved chronic asthma in children compared to placebo. Long-term use led to symptom disappearance or improvement in nearly 81% of pediatric asthma patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Allergy and Immunology
Background:
- Chronic extrinsic asthma in children presents a significant health challenge.
- Asthma management often requires long-term therapeutic strategies.
- Evaluating novel treatments for pediatric asthma is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of ketotifen in treating moderate chronic extrinsic asthma in children.
- To compare ketotifen's effectiveness against a placebo.
- To evaluate the long-term outcomes of ketotifen administration.
Main Methods:
- A 3-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 40 children (aged 3-14 years) with moderate chronic extrinsic asthma.
- Oral administration of ketotifen versus placebo.
- Subsequent open-label extension study for 15-18 months on 21 children from both initial groups.
Main Results:
- Ketotifen group showed significant clinical improvement compared to placebo (p < 0.05).
- Concomitant reduction in antiasthmatic drug use was observed in the ketotifen group.
- In the long-term open study, 47.6% of children experienced symptom disappearance, and 33.3% showed moderate improvement.
Conclusions:
- Ketotifen is an effective treatment for chronic extrinsic asthma in children.
- The drug facilitates a reduction in the need for other asthma medications.
- Long-term ketotifen use demonstrates sustained benefits in pediatric asthma patients.
Abstract:
Ketotifen was administered orally, for 3 months, to 40 children aged 3-14 years with chronic extrinsic asthma of moderate severity in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. A significant clinical improvement with concomitant reduction of antiasthmatic drugs was found in the group receiving the active drug compared with the placebo group (p less than 0.05). The continued administration of ketotifen in an open study to a group of 21 children comprised of patients belonging to both groups (active-placebo) for a period of 15-18 months resulted in disappearance of symptoms in 10 children (47.6%) and moderate improvement in 7 (33.3%).