Comparative clinical evaluation of ketotifen and montelukast sodium in asthmatic Iraqi patients

Asthma is a common and chronic inflammatory condition of the airways whose cause is not completely understood. Although many classes of drugs are used for management of asthma, the response is variable due to multifactor reasons. This study was designed to evaluate the outcome of using ketotifen or montelukast sodium in Iraqi asthmatic patients. Single blinded randomized clinical trial was utilized, in which 100 asthmatic patients were recruited from Al-Karama hospital and randomized into two groups; 1st group (50 patients, treated with ketotifen for 4 weeks) and 2nd group (50 patients treated with montelukast sodium for 4 weeks). Asthma symptom score and wheezing were recorded at the beginning (first visit) and at the end of the study (after one month). Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed by spirometry, and the patients’ use of asthma drugs and their symptoms were evaluated at each visit. The result showed that asthma symptom, chest wheezing, and PFT values were significantly improved in the two groups at the end of the study compared to first visit (p < 0.05). All symptoms were significantly lower and PFT values were higher in the 2nd group compared to 1st group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, both ketotifen and montelukast sodium showed significant changes in asthma symptoms and PFT after one month of treatment, but the changes were more significant with montelukast group (2nd group) compared with ketotifen group (1st group) and this indicate that montelukast was more effective than ketotifen in treatment of asthmatic patients.