Oral activated charcoal in patients with uremic pruritus.
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.
Giovannetti
S
S
Institute of Clinical Medicine I, University of Pisa, Italy.
Barsotti
G
G
Cupisti
A
A
Dani
L
L
Bandini
S
S
Angelini
D
D
Antonelli
A
A
Salvadori
M
M
Urti
D A
DA
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*
D000931:Antidotes; D010919:Placebos; D002606:Charcoal