Gabapentin - A Solution to Uremic Pruritus?

Gabapentin - A Solution to Uremic Pruritus? A Prospective, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Study

To investigate using the drug gabapentin to relieve the intense pruritic sensation associated with chronic renal failure patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult Chinese male and female patients aged > 18 undergoing CAPD for at least 3 months and able to read and understand Chinese
• Patients experiencing moderate to severe pruritis, defined as persistent, treatment-resistant pruritis considerably impairing sleep or daytime activity. Treatment resistance is defined as no or only partial resolvement of pruritis under current anti-pruritis treatment regimens such as anti-pruritis lotions and anti-histamines.
• Patients in stable clinical condition in terms of peritoneal dialysis and general health
• Patients able to understand and answer the SDS questionnaire
• Patients able to express the sensation of itchiness in the terms of the VAS and the SDS score
• Patients who are willing to give written informed consent and to participate in and comply with the study protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with a known history of pruritis or dermatologic disease antedating renal failure.
• Patients with skin disease other than the usual cutaneous findings of uraemia such as xerosis or ecchymosis.
• Patients under current treatment with systemic steroids
• Known history of allergy to Gabapentin
• Those patients already put on anti-convulsants
• Unable to give written informed consent for the study
• Pregnancy or female patients of child-bearing age who are unwilling to use contraception
• Poor drug compliance
• Known HIV positivity
• Active neoplastic disease
• Those who do not want to participate the study