Ketotifen for Children With Functional Dyspepsia in Association With Duodenal Eosinophilia

Summary

Acid reduction remains the most common treatment prescribed empirically by pediatric gastroenterologists for children with functional dyspepsia (FD). When acid reduction therapy fails to provide patients with a therapeutic effect, ketotifen and cromolyn, mast cell stabilizers, represent an attractive potential therapy given data implicating mast cells in the generation of dyspeptic symptoms. Although there have been no adult or pediatric studies on the use of mast cell stabilizers in patients with FD, benefit has been demonstrated in adults with IBS and children with eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Additionally, previous studies show mucosal eosinophilia is highly correlated with functional dyspepsia. Our usual current treatment pathway for functional dyspepsia in association with duodenal mucosal eosinophilia is as follows: acid-reducing medication/montelukast → addition of H1 antagonist → addition of budesonide → addition of oral cromolyn. If ketotifen is effective, it offers the advantage of being able to replace both the H1 antagonist and the oral cromolyn at a substantially reduced cost (approximately 10% of the cost of cromolyn alone). This study aims to introduce ketotifen earlier in the treatment pathway to examine its efficacy on children with functional dyspepsia in association with duodenal eosinophilia.

Timeline

Start

2015-08

Primary completion

2027-04-01

Completion

2027-04-01

Publications

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• Background Schurman JV, Singh M, Singh V, Neilan N, Friesen CA. Symptoms and subtypes in pediatric functional dyspepsia: relation to mucosal inflammation and psychological functioning. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2010 Sep;51(3):298-303. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0b013e3181d1363c.
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• Background Friesen CA, Lin Z, Singh M, Singh V, Schurman JV, Burchell N, Cocjin JT, McCallum RW. Antral inflammatory cells, gastric emptying, and electrogastrography in pediatric functional dyspepsia. Dig Dis Sci. 2008 Oct;53(10):2634-40. doi: 10.1007/s10620-008-0207-0. Epub 2008 Mar 5.
• Background Friesen CA, Neilan NA, Schurman JV, Taylor DL, Kearns GL, Abdel-Rahman SM. Montelukast in the treatment of duodenal eosinophilia in children with dyspepsia: effect on eosinophil density and activation in relation to pharmacokinetics. BMC Gastroenterol. 2009 May 11;9:32. doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-9-32.
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• Background Grahnen A, Lonnebo A, Beck O, Eckernas SA, Dahlstrom B, Lindstrom B. Pharmacokinetics of ketotifen after oral administration to healthy male subjects. Biopharm Drug Dispos. 1992 May;13(4):255-62. doi: 10.1002/bdd.2510130404.
• Friesen CS, Shakhnovich V, Toren P, Retke B, Schurman J, Colombo J, Deacy A, Friesen CA, Abdel-Rahman S. A Pilot Study of Ketotifen in Patients Aged 8-17 Years with Functional Dyspepsia Associated with Mucosal Eosinophilia. Paediatr Drugs. 2024 Jul;26(4):451-457. doi: 10.1007/s40272-024-00628-8. Epub 2024 May 21.

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