Study
leukemia, lymphoma,, liver disease, psoriasis, ESRD, pruritus, eczema
ALLERGIC DERMATITIS, THYROID DISEASE, SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS, LIVER DISEASE, PSORIASIS, DRUG RASH, ESRD, PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY, ECZEMA
This research is a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicentric randomized clinical trial which enrolled sixty patients from the dialysis units in Alexandria. We included ESRD patients with mild, moderate or severe pruritus who had been assigned to regular long-term HD (thrice-weekly, four-hour HD sessions for more than 30 days), aged 18–80 years. Patients were randomly assigned using block randomization method to receive sertraline 50 mg twice daily or placebo for 8 weeks. Participants, health care providers as well as the outcome assessor were unaware about the type of treatment each patient received. Allocation concealment was ensured using sealed closed envelop randomization technique and every patient was given an identification code. We excluded patients with eczema, psoriasis, allergic dermatitis, drug rash, peripheral neuropathy, thyroid disease, leukemia, lymphoma, liver disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, pregnancy, calcium X phosphorus (Ca X Ph) > 55.0 mg/dl, Ph > 5.5 mg/dl, parathyroid hormone (PTH) > 450 pg/ml, and SSRIs intolerance. We also excluded those who consumed antihistamines, opioid antagonists, immunosuppressants, cholestyramine, corticosteroids, ultraviolet B phototherapy or emollients cream 1 month before study. The trial was registered on Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05341843) (22/04/2022).