Abstract

A study on the safety and efficacy of gabapentin and anti-histamines on uremic pruritus in CKD patients

Author(s): G Sainath, P Bhavana*, S Nithya, Thota Rachana

Pruritus is a common and distressing symptom in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), particularly in end-stage renal disease patients. Uremic Pruritus (UP) has a major clinical impact, affecting the quality of life, sleep and mental health of patients. The aim of this study was to compare the safety and effectiveness of gabapentin and anti-histamine on uremic pruritus in CKD patients. The primary objective was to compare the safety and effectiveness of the two drugs, while the secondary objectives included assessing the incidence of uremic pruritus in patients undergoing haemodialysis and observing reasons for itching in CKD patients under dialysis. The prospective comparative study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Hyderabad, Telangana, with a sample size of 50 adult CKD patients on maintenance dialysis and uremic pruritus. The patients were divided into two groups, with one group receiving gabapentin and the other receiving anti-histamines. The effectiveness of the drugs was assessed based on the 5-D pruritus scale before and after administration. The study found that 39.6% of dialysis patients suffered from uremic pruritus, with the majority being on haemodialysis. Antihistamines were found to be more effective in subsiding the symptoms of uremic pruritus compared to gabapentin, which caused drowsiness and had fewer positive outcomes. The study concluded that antihistamines were more effective than gabapentin in reducing the distressing symptoms of uremic pruritus in patients on dialysis, highlighting the potential for improved quality of life and mental health outcomes for CKD patients with UP.