title: Naltrexone does not relieve uremic pruritus: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study.
abstract: Improvement of uremic pruritus was reported under short-term administration of the mu-receptor antagonists naltrexone and naloxone. The aim of the present study was to confirm the efficacy and safety of the oral mu-receptor antagonist naltrexone during a 4-wk treatment period in patients on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. A placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study of uremic patients with persistent, treatment-resistant pruritus was performed. Of 422 patients screened between December 1997 and June 1998, 93 suffered from pruritus and 23 were eligible for the study. Patients were started either with a 4-wk naltrexone sequence (50 mg/d) or matched placebo. This was followed by a 7-d washout, and patients continued with a 4-wk sequence of the alternate medication. Pruritus intensity was scored daily by a visual analogue scale (VAS) and weekly by a detailed score assessing scratching activity, distribution of pruritus, and frequency of pruritus-related sleep disturbance. Sixteen of 23 patients completed the study. During the naltrexone period, pruritus decreased by 29.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 18.7 to 39.6) on the VAS and by 17.6% (95% CI, 4.2 to 31.1) on the detailed score. In comparison, pruritus decreased by 16.9% (95% CI, 6.8 to 26.9) on the VAS and by 22.3% (95% CI, 9.3 to 35.2) on the detailed score during the placebo period. The difference between the naltrexone and the placebo treatment period was not statistically significant. Nine of 23 patients complained of gastrointestinal disturbances during the naltrexone period compared with only one of 23 patients during the placebo period (P < 0.05). These results show that treatment of uremic pruritus with naltrexone is ineffective. In addition, a high incidence of adverse effects was observed during treatment with naltrexone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany.|Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch-Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pauli-Magnus
authors.affiliation: Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch-Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mikus
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Dominik M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Alscher
authors.affiliation: Dialysis Center Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Tillmann
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kirschner
authors.affiliation: Dialysis Center Dürrlewang, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nagel
authors.affiliation: Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch-Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gugeler
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Teut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Risler
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Elke D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kuhlmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mettang
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D010919:Placebos; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D010919:Placebos; D009271:Naltrexone