Serum
indoxyl sulphate, which is markedly accumulated in haemodialysis patients, cannot be removed efficiently by haemodialysis due to its
albumin-binding property. To determine whether an oral adsorbent (AST-120) can decrease its serum concentration,
AST-120 was administered to haemodialysis patients. The patients given
AST-120 showed significantly reduced serum concentration of
indoxyl sulphate as compared to control haemodialysis patients, even though the serum concentrations of
urea nitrogen and
creatinine did not decrease significantly in the patients treated with
AST-120. The haemodialysis patients with generalised
pruritus showed an amelioration of
itching after administration of
AST-120. These results showed that
AST-120 was effective in reducing the serum concentration of
albumin-bound
indoxyl sulphate in haemodialysis patients by adsorption of
indole, a precursor of
indoxyl sulphate, in the intestines, and that it relieved
itching in haemodialysis patients with generalised
pruritus.