- Title
- The role of ondansetron in the management of cholestatic or uremic pruritus: a systematic review
- Creator
- To, Timothy H. M.; Clark, Katherine; Lam, Lawrence; Shelby-James, Tania; Currow, David Christopher
- Relation
- Journal of Pain and Symptom Management Vol. 44, Issue 5, p. 725-730
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2011.11.007
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2012
- Description
- Context: Pruritus associated with hepatic or renal failure can be a troublesome symptom, refractory to treatment and associated with significant physical and emotional distress and a reduction in quality of life for patients already burdened with chronic disease. Serotonin has been implicated as a possible pathological mediator, and, therefore, 5HT₃ antagonists have been suggested as a possible therapeutic intervention. Objectives: This review of the literature systematically explores the role of ondansetron in the management of cholestatic or uremic pruritus. Methods: Electronic databases were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials examining the role of ondansetron in cholestatic or uremic pruritus between 1966 and 2008. Results: Five randomized controlled trials were included in this systematic review: three for cholestatic pruritus and two for uremic pruritus. All trials examined ondansetron vs. placebo, with differing treatment protocols. Overall, three studies showed no benefit to ondansetron over placebo; however, two studies in cholestatic pruritus showed small reductions in pruritus with questionable clinical significance. Conclusion: Ondansetron was demonstrated to have negligible effect on cholestatic or uremic pruritus on the basis of a limited number of studies.
- Subject
- ondansetron; 5HT₃; antagonists; itch; pruritus; cholestasis; hepatic failure; uremia; renal failure
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1307839
- Identifier
- uon:21540
- Identifier
- ISSN:0885-3924
- Language
- eng
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