[Drug prevention of bronchial asthma: inhibition of histamine and exercise-induced asthma by a new anti-anaphylactic oral preparation (ketotifen) (author's transl)].

The protective anti-asthmatic effect of a new anti-allergic drug with histaminolytic and anti-anaphylactic properties was tested in various controlled clinical studies of induced bronchospasm in asthmatic patients (provocation tests using a histamine aerosol, and exercise-induced asthma using a bicycle ergometer). The drug, ketotifen (a cycloheptathiophene derivative) was compared with a classical antihistaminic (clemastine) and a known cell stabiliser (disodium cromoglycate). In both models ketotifen provided significant protection.