KETOTIFEN IN THE MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS WITH BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA

Ketotifen, a histamine (I-Il) antagonist, inhibits PAF-induced eosinophil accumulation and airway hyperreactivity. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a complex disorder in which bronchial hyperreactivity is usually present. An open randomized trial was carried out with this agent in infants with chronic BPD who were followed up for 6 months. The efficacy of the drug was evaluated according to respiratory symptom and medication scores, in which numerical values were assigned to various other antiasthmatic agents used to control wheezing. No adverse clinical or biochemical sequelae were noted during treatment. The mean respiratory symptom and mean medication scores were significantly higher worse in the control group in comparison with the infants treated with ketotifen.