Comparison of ketotifen, disodium cromoglycate and placebo in the treatment of adult patients with mild extrinsic asthma

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Abstract
Patients (64) with mild or moderate extrinsic asthma were treated with placebo for 1 mo. and thereafter with ketotifen (1 mg twice daily, orally), disodium cromoglycate [DSCG] (inhalation of 20 mg, 4 times daily) or placebo for 2 subsequent mo. The trial was performed at 4 different centers and the treatments were compared using double-blind technique. There was no difference between the effect of ketotifen, DSCG and placebo on the patients'' daily measurements of evening peak expiratory flow, daily score values for respiratory symptoms or the number of salbutamol puffs required to control symptoms. There was no difference between the treatment groups with regard to the patients'' estimates of changes in airway sensitivity to different non-specific stimuli, i.e., fumes, tobacco smoke, cold air and exercise. The only significant effect of DSCG was a minor (4%) increase in the mean morning value for peak expiratory flow. The addition of ketotifen or DSCG to the regimen is unlikely to give further benefit in asthmatic patients, whose symptoms are reasonably well controlled by small doses of bronchodilating drugs.