A steroid-sparing effect of ketotifen in steroid dependent asthmatics

The steroid-sparing effect of ketotifen was studied in 30 steroid-dependent patients with atopic asthma with a mean age of 44 years, using a protocol of 3 consecutive periods of 3 months each. In the first period the average daily consumption of steroids was established. During the second period the patients were given ketotifen, 2 mg daily, which was withdrawn in the third period. The mean daily steroid consumption (prednisolone equivalents) was 11.08 mg in the first period, 3.13 mg in the second and 5.12 mg in the third. During ketotifen treatment steroids could be withdrawn in 12 patients and reduced in another 14 without any deterioration of their clinical state or increase of consumption of symptomatic antiasthmatic drugs.