Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of gabapentin in the treatment of pruritus in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Methods A randomized controlled trial was performed. Peritoneal dialysis patients with pruritus were selected and randomly divided into experimental group and control group. Twenty-three patients in the control group received loratadine 10 mg orally before sleep every night, while 25 patients in the experimental group received gabapentin 100 mg orally before sleep every day. After 4 weeks, efficacy was observed according to visual analog score(VAS) and 5-D pruritus scale score, and adverse reactions were recorded. Laboratory data such as blood urea nitrogen, blood creatinine, hemoglobin, Kt/V, blood calcium, blood phosphorus and parathyroid hormone of patients before and after treatment were collected.

Results After treatment, VAS score and 5-D pruritoneal scale score in the experimental group decreased compared with the control group, and the differences were statistically significant(P < 0.05). Four cases in the control group showed drowsiness and 6 cases in the experimental group showed fatigue and drowsiness, all of which were relieved without any treatment, and none of them developed serious complications that led to discontinuation of treatment. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions among patients with 24 h urine volume >400 mL, 100-400 mL and < 100 mL in the observation group(P>0.05).

Conclusions Gabapentin is effective in improving pruritus in patients with peritoneal dialysis complicated with pruritus and small-dose daily administration is a safe way for using.