Cromolyn sodium: a potential therapy for uremic pruritus? 2006

Mitchell H Rosner
Division of Nephrology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA. mh9r@virginia.edu

Uremic pruritus occurs in up to 50% of patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. The pathogenesis of this disabling condition is unknown but likely involves multiple pathways involving the peripheral and central nervous system as well as local chemical and inflammatory mediators. Therapy has involved modification of the dialysis procedure, topical medications such as emollients, physical treatments such as ultraviolet light, and several oral medications such as antihistamines, activated charcoal, and gabapentin. Unfortunately, most of these therapies have not been subjected to rigorous clinical trials and clinical success has been variable. Two patients with disabling uremic pruritus refractory to multiple interventions are reported, who showed significant improvement in pruritus severity as assessed by a visual analog scale when they were treated with the mast cell stabilizer cromolyn sodium. Cessation of cromolyn resulted in return of pruritus, which improved with rechallenge with the medication. Cromolyn sodium may offer an alternative therapy for patients with refractory uremic pruritus, and should be subjected to a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007676 Kidney Failure, Chronic The end-stage of CHRONIC RENAL INSUFFICIENCY. It is characterized by the severe irreversible kidney damage (as measured by the level of PROTEINURIA) and the reduction in GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE to less than 15 ml per min (Kidney Foundation: Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative, 2002). These patients generally require HEMODIALYSIS or KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION. ESRD,End-Stage Renal Disease,Renal Disease, End-Stage,Renal Failure, Chronic,Renal Failure, End-Stage,Chronic Kidney Failure,End-Stage Kidney Disease,Chronic Renal Failure,Disease, End-Stage Kidney,Disease, End-Stage Renal,End Stage Kidney Disease,End Stage Renal Disease,End-Stage Renal Failure,Kidney Disease, End-Stage,Renal Disease, End Stage,Renal Failure, End Stage
D011537 Pruritus An intense itching sensation that produces the urge to rub or scratch the skin to obtain relief. Itching,Pruritis
D004205 Cromolyn Sodium A chromone complex that acts by inhibiting the release of chemical mediators from sensitized MAST CELLS. It is used in the prophylactic treatment of both allergic and exercise-induced asthma, but does not affect an established asthmatic attack. Disodium Cromoglycate,Sodium Cromoglycate,Aarane,Bicromat Spray,Cromoglicic Acid,Cromoglycate,Cromoglycic Acid,Cromolyn,FPL-670,Intal,Lomudal,Nalcrom,Nasalcrom,Opticrom,Vicrom,Acid, Cromoglicic,Acid, Cromoglycic,Cromoglycate, Disodium,Cromoglycate, Sodium,FPL 670,FPL670
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D004334 Drug Administration Schedule Time schedule for administration of a drug in order to achieve optimum effectiveness and convenience. Administration Schedule, Drug,Administration Schedules, Drug,Drug Administration Schedules,Schedule, Drug Administration,Schedules, Drug Administration
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006435 Renal Dialysis Therapy for the insufficient cleansing of the BLOOD by the kidneys based on dialysis and including hemodialysis, PERITONEAL DIALYSIS, and HEMODIAFILTRATION. Dialysis, Extracorporeal,Dialysis, Renal,Extracorporeal Dialysis,Hemodialysis,Dialyses, Extracorporeal,Dialyses, Renal,Extracorporeal Dialyses,Hemodialyses,Renal Dialyses
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014511 Uremia A clinical syndrome associated with the retention of renal waste products or uremic toxins in the blood. It is usually the result of RENAL INSUFFICIENCY. Most uremic toxins are end products of protein or nitrogen CATABOLISM, such as UREA or CREATININE. Severe uremia can lead to multiple organ dysfunctions with a constellation of symptoms. Uremias
D016896 Treatment Outcome Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and practicability of these interventions in individual cases or series. Rehabilitation Outcome,Treatment Effectiveness,Clinical Effectiveness,Clinical Efficacy,Patient-Relevant Outcome,Treatment Efficacy,Effectiveness, Clinical,Effectiveness, Treatment,Efficacy, Clinical,Efficacy, Treatment,Outcome, Patient-Relevant,Outcome, Rehabilitation,Outcome, Treatment,Outcomes, Patient-Relevant,Patient Relevant Outcome,Patient-Relevant Outcomes

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