Inhibition by Ketotifen of Idiosyncratic Reactions to Aspirin

Abstract
Ketotifen administered prior to aspirin offered protection against bronchoconstriction in 13 of 14 patients with aspirin-sensitive asthma. In 4 other subjects suffering from urticaria/angioedema following ingestion of aspirin-like drugs, pretreatment with ketotifen resulted in total prevention of the adverse reactions. A common pathogenetic mechanism may be operating in 2 distinct clinical patterns of idiosyncrasy to aspirin and other cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors. Ketotifen might find application in treatment of adverse reactions to aspirin.