The findings of this review indicate that the number of systemic and topical drugs used for the different subforms of pruritus is increasing. Different interventions have been shown to be effective in the treatment of pruritus of different origins. Nevertheless, an optimal therapy for pruritus is constrained due to the limited understanding of crucial itch mediators and receptors in the various subforms of itch. Ideal antipruritic therapies are still lacking, especially for palliative care patients.
This systematic review also indicates that there is insufficient evidence to give any concrete recommendations regarding treatment of pruritus in palliative care patients. Due to the very small sample sizes and poor methodological quality of the majority of studies that were included, the results of this review need to be interpreted with caution. Furthermore, the generalizability is questionable. Additional studies, and particularly carefully designed treatment trials, are needed to provide valid evidence for adequate treatment of pruritus in palliative care patients.
Flumecinol for the treatment of pruritus associated with primary biliary cirrhosis.
To determine whether flumecinol (3-trifluoromethyl-alpha-ethylbenzhydrol, Zixoryn) is effective in ameliorating pruritus of cholestasis, particularly in primary bilary cirrhosis.
                50 patients (46 with primary biliary cirrhosis, PBC) took oral flumecinol 600 mg or identical placebo once weekly for 3 weeks. Patients assessed pruritus by scoring a daily 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS; 0 = no itch, 100 = severe, continuous, day and night intolerable itch). Quality of life was similarly measured. Patients scored the VAS daily for a 7-day baseline and for a further 21 days. Subjectively, pruritus improved in 13 of 24 on flumecinol and 10 of 26 on placebo (chi 2 = 1.24, P = 0.27). Median difference in fall in VAS pruritus score between baseline week (mean score for each individual used) and the last week was 8.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) -2.1 to 20.8] and for VAS quality of life was 5.0 (95% Cl 0.4 to 13.0) both in favour of flumecinol over placebo. Later, 19 patients (all PBC) were randomised to flumecinol 300 mg or placebo daily for 3 weeks. Subjectively, pruritus improved in 7 of 10 on flumecinol and 1 of 9 on placebo (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.02). Median difference in fall in VAS pruritus score was 19.8 mm (95% CI 3.3 to 40.7 mm) in favour of flumecinol over placebo and for quality of life was 3.5 mm (95% Cl -5.9 to 24.9 mm). Flumecinol did not significantly affect liver function tests, antipyrine clearance or serum total bile acids, and was not associated with any significant side-effects.
                Flumecinol was safe at the above doses and short term treatment with 300 mg daily, significantly ameliorated pruritus in primary biliary cirrhosis.