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Growth hormone plasma levels in children treated for 6 months with ketotifen
Insights
Ketotifen, an asthma medication, did not affect growth hormone or blood glucose levels in children with pollinosis or bronchial asthma. Long-term ketotifen treatment showed no adverse effects on growth or key hormone levels.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Allergy and Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Ketotifen is a mast cell stabilizer used for allergic conditions like pollinosis and bronchial asthma.
- Concerns exist regarding the potential impact of long-term medication use on growth and endocrine function in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of continuous, 6-month ketotifen treatment on growth hormone (GH) and blood glucose levels in children.
- To assess the impact of ketotifen on growth rate, weight gain, and other pituitary hormones (TSH, prolactin).
Main Methods:
- Twelve children with pollinosis or bronchial asthma received ketotifen (2 mg/day) for 6 months.
- Growth hormone and blood glucose were measured during insulin tolerance tests (ITT) at baseline, 3, and 6 months.
- GH was also measured during nocturnal sleep; TSH and prolactin levels were assessed.
Main Results:
- Ketotifen treatment did not significantly alter growth hormone secretion or blood glucose response during ITT.
- Growth rate and weight gain in treated children were comparable to untreated controls and national averages.
- Thyroid stimulating hormone and prolactin levels remained unchanged throughout the study.
Conclusions:
- Long-term ketotifen administration (6 months) appears safe regarding endocrine function and growth in pediatric patients.
- The study suggests ketotifen does not negatively impact the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis or overall growth in children with allergic respiratory diseases.
Abstract:
Twelve children with pollinosis or bronchial asthma were treated continuously, without interruption, for 6 months with ketotifen (2 mg per day). In the first group of 6 children, growth hormone and blood glucose levels were measured during insulin tolerance tests (-15, 0, 30 and 60 min) and growth hormone levels during the late evening when the children were asleep, before and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. In the second group of 6 children, growth hormone and blood glucose levels were measured during protracted insulin tolerance tests (-15, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 min) at the same periods. The results showed that the growth hormone increases and blood glucose decreases were generally the same before and during ketotifen treatment. Growth rate and weight gain in the treated groups were similar to those in control groups of untreated children and were not lower than the average values for Czech children of the same age. Measurements of thyroid stimulating hormone and prolactin levels showed that these also wer not altered during long-term ketotifen administration.