KUMJ | VOL. 1 | NO. 4 | ISSUE 4 | OCT-DEC, 2003
Efficacy and tolerability of Ketotifen in Nepalese asthmatic children: a clinical study
Shakya KN, Joshi P, Piya A, Baral MR
Abstract: Objective To assess the efficacy of Ketotifen in asthmatic children and to record its adverse effects, if any.
Design Prospective clinical trial. Setting Pediatric asthma follow up clinic of a teaching hospital. Participants 23
asthmatic children between 3 and 15 years; 100% completed the trial on full protocol. Interventions Ketotifen 1mg
(adjusted according to body weight, 50 mcg/kg/dose) orally twice daily for 9 months.
Main Outcome measures Primary outcome: Decrease in frequency of asthmatic attacks and severity of
exacerbations with improvements in peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR). Other measures included decrease in
bronchodilator requirement, steroid doses and parental perception regarding patient quality of life.
Results 34.78% children were symptom free by the end of 2nd 3 months and 65.21% had no further attack by the end
of 3rd 3 months of Ketotifen prophylaxis. Those children with activity and sleep ‘affected’ (8.69%) and ‘may be
affected’ (30.43%) together improved to ‘may be affected’ group (21.73%) by the end of 2nd 3 months and further
reduced to 8.69% by the conclusion of 3rd 3 months. The duration of exacerbations was reduced in the remaining
cases. Variability of PEFR decreased from 26.08% to 8.69% of children after the 3rd 3 months of Ketotifen
prophylaxis. No significant adverse effect of therapy was observed during the study.
Conclusion Oral Ketotifen is effective and well tolerated for use in prophylactic treatment of bronchial asthma in
children.
Keyword : Ketotifen, Asthma, Prophylaxis, Efficacy
