KETOTIFEN IN THE MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS WITH BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA

Ketotifen, a histamine (I-Il) antagonist, inhibits PAF-induced eosinop hil accumulation and airway hyperreactivity. Bronchopulmonary dysplasi a (BPD) is a complex disorder in which bronchial hyperreactivity is us ually present. An open randomized trial was carried out with this agen t in infants with chronic BPD who were followed up for 6 months. The e fficacy 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 clini cal or biochemical sequelae were noted during treatment. The mean resp iratory symptom and mean medication scores were significantly higher w orse in the control group in comparison with the infants treated with ketotifen.