Sertraline Effect in Uremic Pruritis

This study aims to assess the effect of sertraline on uremic pruritis in patients undergoing regular haemodialysis.

The reported prevalence of uremic pruritus in adult hemodialysis patients has varied over the years, and some studies suggest the prevalence may be decreasing with more effective dialysis. One of the largest trials (the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study \[DOPPS\]) reported that the prevalence of moderate pruritus remained constant at 18 percent until 2015.

A direct role for proinflammatory T cells and cytokines is suggested by studies that showed higher levels of proinflammatory T helper-1 (TH1) cells, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and interleukin-2 levels among hemodialysis patients versus those without pruritus. Also, histamine release from mast cells, other pruritogens and xerosis have been all implicated in the pathogenesis of uremic pruritus.

Less convincing associations have also been made to anemia, male sex, increased beta-2 microglobulin levels, serotype human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B35, and comorbidities including congestive heart failure and neurologic disease. The risk of uremic pruritis appears to be independent of ethnicity, type of dialysis, and underlying renal disease. No single cause underlying uremic pruritus has been identified. Multiple factors have been associated in observational studies, and supportive therapies that are used to treat uremic pruritus have targeted such factors.

High quality evidence on which to base recommendations for the treatment of uremic pruritus is limited. Many pharmacologic treatments have been proposed for uremic pruritis through different clinical trials. However, the results were quite variable and most of these studies were small uncontrolled trials and hence they were flawed.

Several studies have revealed that the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) could reduce the severity of pruritus. Sertraline hydrochloride is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor which established improvement in itching in patients with cholestatic pruritis. This was supported by Browning et al. (2003) whose study showed 86% of subjects who had been given sertraline for another indication improved considerably with pruritus disappearing in 30% of the subjects.

Generally, most of the previous research has tended to focus on cholestatic pruritis rather than uremic pruritis. Although enough is known to determine a reasonable approach to a patient with uremic pruritus, more research is needed to understand the pathophysiology of this condition and to establish more reliable treatments. Hence, this study is organized in an attempt to find out the effect of sertraline on alleviation of uremic pruritus.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. ≥1 month of maintenance haemodialysis, 3 times per week for 4 hours.
2. Adult patients with ages between 18-80 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Primary skin diseases (eczema, psoriasis, allergic dermatitis or drug rash).
2. Peripheral neuropathy, thyroid disease, leukemia, lymphoma, liver disease, Systemic lupus erythematosus or pregnancy.
3. Patients who consumed emollients cream, antihistamine, opioid antagonist, immunosuppressants, cholestyramine, corticosteroids or UVB phototherapy 1 month before study.
4. calcium X phosphorus (Ca X P) \>55.0 mg/dl, P \>5.5 mg/dl, parathyroid hormone (PTH) \>450 pg/ml.
5. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors intolerance.