Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of intravenous sodium thiosulfate (IV STS) with that of loratadine in the treatment of uremic pruritus in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods

This retrospective study included 44 HD patients with pruritus aged over 18 years between June 2018 and January 2020 at the Aerospace Center Hospital of China. Twenty-four HD patients received 3.2 g IV STS treatment three times per week at the end of each HD session for 8 weeks. Twenty HD patients received loratadine (10 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Pruritus intensity was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the detailed pruritus score (DPS) at three time points. The safety of STS was evaluated according to adverse event symptoms and biological variable changes.

Results

There was no significant difference between the STS and loratadine groups in age, sex, characteristics of pruritus, or other clinical variables before treatment. After 8 weeks of treatment, the VAS score (7.07 ± 2.56 and 2.67 ± 2.01) and DPS (30.72 ± 4.81 and 8.04 ± 2.86) decreased significantly in the STS group (p < 0.05). The mean decrease in VAS score (6.89 ± 1.98 and 6.34 ± 2.35) and DPS (28.90 ± 3.24 and 26.92 ± 2.41) in the loratadine group was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). There were no morbidities or mortalities associated with the use of either drug. All biological variables remained stable after therapy.

Conclusions

STS can improve uremic pruritus in HD patients. However, literature on the subject remains lacking. Close monitoring for adverse effects is advised.

Details

Title
Therapeutic effect of intravenous sodium thiosulfate for uremic pruritus in hemodialysis patients
Author
Yu-Huan, Song 1 ; Si-Yang, Wang 2 ; Jia-Hui, Lang 3 ; Yue-Fei, Xiao 4 ; Guang-Yan Cai 2 ; Xiang-Mei, Chen 2 

 Department of Nephrology, Aerospace Center Hospital, Peking University Aerospace School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing, China; Department of Nephrology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Institute of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing, China 
 Department of Nephrology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Institute of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing, China 
 Department of Nephrology, Aerospace Center Hospital Chengde Branch, Chengde, China 
 Department of Nephrology, Aerospace Center Hospital, Peking University Aerospace School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing, China 
Pages
987-993
Publication year
2020
Publication date
Nov 2020
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Ltd.
ISSN
0886022X
e-ISSN
15256049
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2499232723
Copyright
© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.