Growth hormone plasma levels in children treated for 6 months with ketotifen.

Twelve children with pollinosis or bronchial asthma were treated continuously, without interruption, for 6 months with ketotifen (2 mg per day). In the first group of 6 children, growth hormone and blood glucose levels were measured during insulin tolerance tests (-15, 0, 30 and 60 min) and growth hormone levels during the late evening when the children were asleep, before and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. In the second group of 6 children, growth hormone and blood glucose levels were measured during protracted insulin tolerance tests (-15, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 min) at the same periods. The results showed that the growth hormone increases and blood glucose decreases were generally the same before and during ketotifen treatment. Growth rate and weight gain in the treated groups were similar to those in control groups of untreated children and were not lower than the average values for Czech children of the same age. Measurements of thyroid stimulating hormone and prolactin levels showed that these also wer not altered during long-term ketotifen administration.