The effect of ketotifen on bronchial hyperreactivity in childhood asthma

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Pharmacology
• Asthma Research

Background:

• Perennial bronchial asthma is a chronic respiratory condition affecting children.
• Bronchial hyperreactivity is a hallmark of asthma, indicating airway hypersensitivity.
• Ketotifen is a medication sometimes used for asthma management, but its effect on bronchial hyperreactivity requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the protective effect of ketotifen on bronchial hyperreactivity in children with perennial bronchial asthma.
• To determine if long-term ketotifen treatment alters airway responsiveness to methacholine challenge.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 18 children (average age 9.6 years) with perennial bronchial asthma.
• Participants underwent methacholine provocation tests every four weeks for 12 weeks.
• Patients were randomized into two parallel groups, receiving either ketotifen or a placebo.

Main Results:

• All participants demonstrated bronchial reversibility post-salbutamol inhalation.
• Methacholine challenge resulted in a ≥20% decrease in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) within a specific concentration range.
• No significant differences in methacholine challenge responses were observed between the ketotifen and placebo groups, nor between pre-treatment and during-treatment periods within each group.

Conclusions:

• Long-term treatment with ketotifen does not appear to modify bronchial hyperreactivity in pediatric patients with bronchial asthma.
• The findings suggest ketotifen may not be effective in reducing airway hyperresponsiveness in this population.
• Further research may be needed to explore alternative therapeutic strategies for managing bronchial hyperreactivity in childhood asthma.