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Gabapentin therapy for pruritus in haemodialysis patients: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial.

AbstractBACKGROUND:
Uraemic pruritus is a common and distressing symptom in patients on haemodialysis for chronic renal failure. Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant that alleviates neuropathic pain. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study to assess its effectiveness against renal itch.
METHODS:
We enrolled in the trial 25 adult patients on haemodialysis who were asked to daily record the severity of their pruritus on a visual analogue scale. The patients were randomly assigned to receive gabapentin for 4 weeks followed by placebo for 4 weeks or the reverse sequence. Gabapentin or placebo were administered thrice weekly, at the end of haemodialysis sessions.
RESULTS:
The mean pruritus score of the cohort before the study was 8.4 +/- 0.94. After placebo intake, it decreased to 7.6 +/- 2.6 (P = 0.098). The score of four patients decreased by >50% following placebo. After gabapentin administration, the mean score decreased significantly, to 1.2 +/- 1.8 (P = 0.0001), although one patient's symptoms did not improve significantly. No patient dropped out of the study due to adverse effects from gabapentin.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our study shows that gabapentin is safe and effective for treating uraemic pruritus in haemodialysis patients. Our results also support the neuropathic hypothesis of uraemic pruritus.
AuthorsAli Ihsan Gunal, Goksel Ozalp, Tahir Kurtulus Yoldas, Servin Yesil Gunal, Ercan Kirciman, Huseyin Celiker
JournalNephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association (Nephrol Dial Transplant) Vol. 19 Issue 12 Pg. 3137-9 (Dec 2004) ISSN: 0931-0509 [Print] England
PMID15575002 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
Chemical References
  • Amines
  • Analgesics
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Gabapentin
Topics
  • Amines (therapeutic use)
  • Analgesics (therapeutic use)
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids (therapeutic use)
  • Female
  • Gabapentin
  • Humans
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic (complications, therapy)
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pruritus (drug therapy, etiology)
  • Renal Dialysis (adverse effects)
  • Uremia (complications, therapy)
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (therapeutic use)

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