title: Oral activated charcoal in patients with uremic pruritus.
abstract: Twenty-three chronic uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis and suffering from severe pruritus were treated with activated powdered charcoal (6 g daily p.o.). In 10 patients pruritus disappeared completely, and in 10 other patients a partial effect was observed. The favorable results persisted for several weeks after discontinuation of the treatment. Only 3 cases were totally unresponsive. No relevant undesirable side effects were observed with the exception of 1 case who showed treatment intolerance. It is concluded that activated charcoal per os is a safe, effective, and low-cost therapy for patients with uremic pruritus, but its mechanism of action is unknown.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine I, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giovannetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barsotti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cupisti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bandini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Angelini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvadori
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Urti
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002606:Charcoal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004326:Drinking; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D010919:Placebos; D002606:Charcoal