Pharmacological interventions for pruritus in adult palliative care patients

Abstract

Analysis 2.1. Comparison 2 Nalfurafine versus placebo, Outcome 1 A) Pruritus on VAS scale (0-10 cm) in UP participants; parallel-group design; Wikström b: Wikström a (week 2) + period 1 Wikström b.. .. .. .. .. . Analysis 2.2. Comparison 2 Nalfurafine versus placebo, Outcome 2 A) Sensitivity analysis: random-effects model; pruritus on VAS scale (0-10 cm) in UP participants; parallel-group design; Wikström b: Wikström a (week 2) + period 1

Medical needs and major complaints related to pruritus in Germany: a 4‐year retrospective analysis using Google AdWords Keyword Planner

“…While the pruritus associated with dermatoses is well known and the frequency of the searches appears to be plausible, the low frequency of other types of pruritus associated with illnesses such as diabetes or lymphoma was unexpected . It could thus be speculated that palliative care patients receive advice during visits to their oncologists; however, this does not explain the imbalance between dermatoses and all other non‐dermatological origins for pruritus. These data suggest that non‐dermatological causes for pruritus remain unknown in the general population.…”

European S2k Guideline on Chronic Pruritus

“…In addition, if the underlying cause is detected, disease-specific guidelines should be consulted [e.g. atopic dermatitis (AD) (2-5), urticaria (6), scabies (7), adult palliative care (8)]. The health care systems in many countries and their social economic situation with ever diminishing financial resources increase the need for guidelines.…”

Why do Pain Physicians Not Routinely Use Mixed Opioids for the Prevention of Neuraxial Opioid-induced Pruritus?

“…Overall, most of the drugs caused mild side effects. Moreover, naltrexone showed by far the most side effects, and overall evidence ranged from very low to moderate quality [7].…”