title: The efficacy of ketotifen in a controlled double-blind food challenge study in patients with food allergy.
abstract: The effectiveness of oral ketotifen was compared with that of placebo in 26 patients with food allergy in a randomized, double-blind parallel study. Patients were selected on the basis of food allergy as established by history, clinical improvement after an exclusion diet, and reappearance of the symptoms after a challenge with the food. Thirteen patients were given ketotifen and 13, placebo. Ketotifen or placebo were administered twice daily for 1 month after the first oral provocation test and the last dose was given 12 hours before the second oral provocation test. Ketotifen protected patients (7/13) significantly more than placebo (2/13; P less than .05). The results of this study suggest that ketotifen may be useful for some patients with food allergy.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007665:Ketotifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D007665:Ketotifen