Ketotifen safe, effective in allergen challenge trial

Ketotifen was safe and effective in reducing the ocular itching and hyperemia associated with allergic conjunctivitis in a conjunctival allergen challenge trial, Boston researchers found.

Mark Abelson, MD, and colleagues at the Schepens Eye Research Institute studied 72 patients randomized to receive ketotifen 0.025% in one eye and placebo in the other. At sequential visits, subjects received ketotifen 0.025% ophthalmic solution in one eye and vehicle solution in the other eye 15 minutes (visit 3), 6 hours (visit 4) and 8 hours (visit 5) before undergoing an allergen challenge.

At all follow-up times, mean itching scores and ocular hyperemia were reduced in the eyes receiving ketotifen.

With a rapid onset of action and long duration of action, ketotifen may be a viable treatment for allergic conjunctivitis, the researchers concluded.

The study is published in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.