title: Transcutaneous O2 and CO2 monitoring of bronchial responsiveness in FEV1 non-responder asthmatics during ketotifen and placebo treatment.
abstract: Effects of ultrasonically nebulized distilled water (UNDW) on PtcO2 and PtcCO2 time courses were studied in 26 mild asthmatics (FEV1 non-responders) in basal conditions and monitored after 2, 6, 12 and 18 weeks of randomly allocated treatment with ketotifen 1 mg b.i.d. or placebo. Magnitude and duration of both PtcO2 and PtcCO2 changes due to UNDW inhalation were progressively normalized only by ketotifen. Partial but significant protection against UNDW-induced hyperventilation was achieved after 2 weeks of treatment, complete protection (also against UNDW-induced hypoxia) being achieved later. In view of the CO2 dependency of respiratory drive and the primary structural targets of the hypo-osmotic bronchial challenge employed, these results suggest that ketotifen may affect the mucosal structures of the bronchial airways, thereby acting as a mucosal protective drug.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Respiratory Diseases, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Turco
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pomari
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dal Negro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007665:Ketotifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen; D007665:Ketotifen