Opioid receptors expression in the skin of haemodialysis patients suffering from uraemic pruritus.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Uraemic pruritus is a common symptom in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing haemodialysis (HD) treatment. Etiopathogenesis of uraemic pruritus is complex and not fully explained, but there are reports indicating a possible role of peripheral opioid system in its pathomechanism.

OBJECTIVES:

This study was undertaken to analyse the expression of mu- and kappa-opioid receptors in the skin of HD patients with and without uraemic pruritus.

METHODS:

Forty patients suffering from chronic kidney disease, treated with haemodialysis (21 pruritic and 19 non-pruritic), were included. The expression of mu- and kappa-opioid receptors in their skin was evaluated with immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS:

The significant (P < 0.02) decrease in kappa-opioid receptor expression was shown in the skin of pruritic patients in comparison with the skin of those without itch (1.07 ± 0.62 and 1.66 ± 0.85, respectively). Moreover, there was a significant negative correlation between intensity of pruritus and expression of kappa-opioid receptors (r = -0.63, P = 0.002). There was no difference in the expression of mu-opioid receptor expression in the skin of pruritic and non-pruritic HD patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study indicates that changes in peripheral opioid system may play an important role in the uraemic itch pathogenesis and that future studies are necessary to fully understand this mechanism.

• Authors: A Wieczorek, P Krajewski, M Kozioł-Gałczyńska, J C Szepietowski
• Journal: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV (J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol) Vol. 34 Issue 10 Pg. 2368-2372 (Oct 2020) ISSN: 1468-3083 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 32170896 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2020 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Opioid
• Receptors, Opioid

Topics

• Analgesics, Opioid
• Humans
• Pruritus (etiology)
• Receptors, Opioid
• Renal Dialysis
• Skin