Table I.
Summary of the characteristics of the studies included in the meta-analysis
| Reference | Drug tested | Dosage | Study design | Patients n | Pruritus scale | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ataei, et al. (47) | Sertraline vs rifampin | 100 mg/day vs 300 mg/day | Randomized trial | 36 | VAS 0–10 cm | No significant differences between the 2 groups (p = 0.740). |
| Bergasa, et al. (70) | Nalmefene | 2 mg × 2 on day 1, 5 mg × 2 on day 2, l0 mg × 2 on day 3, and 20 mg × 2 on day 4 | Cross-over trial | 8 | VAS 0–10 cm | Overall mean decrease with nalmefene of 77% (p < 0.01) |
| Chappell, et al. (37) | UDCA | 500 mg × 2. Dose was increased to a maximum of 2 g/day if no response | Randomized trial | 125 | VAS 0–100 mm | UDCA failed to reduce itch pre-specified by the clinicians and women as clinically meaningful |
| Frezza, et al. (52) | SAMe | 1600 mg/day | Randomized trial | 220 | VAS 0–10 cm | Significant decrease in itch compared with placebo (p < 0.01). |
| Ghent & Carruthers (43) | Rifampin | 300–450 mg/day | Cross-over trial | 9 | VAS 0–100 mm | Significant decrease in itch compared with placebo (p < 0.002). |
| Kumada, et al. (59) | Nalfurafine | 2.5 pg or 5 pg once a day | Randomized trial | 317 | VAS 0–100 mm | Significant decrease in itch compared with placebo (p = 0.0022 for 2.5 pg group and 0.0056 for 5 pg group). |
| Mansour-Ghanaei, et al. (66) | Naltrexone | 50 mg daily | Cross-over trial | 34 | VAS 0–10 cm | Significant decrease in itch compared with placebo (p < 0.001). |
| Mayo, et al. (80) | Sertraline | 25 mg once daily increased every 4 week (25/50/75/100 mg) | Cross-over trial | 21 | VAS 0–10 cm | Significant decrease in itch compared with placebo (p = 0.009). Median optimal dose of 1.52 mg/kg/daily (75–100 mg daily). |
| Müller, et al. (79) | Ondansetron | 8 mg/day | Cross-over trial | 18 | VAS 0–10 cm | Significant decrease in itch compared with placebo (p = 0.033). |
| Podesta, et al. (46) | Rifampicin | 300 mg twice daily | Cross-over trial | 14 | VAS 0–100 mm | Significant decrease in itch compared with placebo (p < 0.001). |
| Schwörer, et al. (78) | Ondansetron | 8 mg/day | Cross-over trial | 10 | VAS 0–10 cm | Significant decrease in itch compared with placebo (p < 0.005). |
| Terg, et al. (67) | Naltrexone | 50 mg/day | Cross-over trial | 20 | VAS 0–10 cm | Greater decrease in VAS with naltrexone (p = 0.0003) than placebo (p = 0.07). |
| Villamil, et al. (74) | Lidocaine | 100 mg intravenous | Cross-over trial | 18 | VAS 0–100 mm | Significant decrease in itch compared with placebo (p < 0.005). |
| Watson, et al. (104) | Antioxidant vitamin preparation | Bio-Antox (4 tablet/day) +/– 100 mg Bio-Quinone Q10(BQ10) | Randomized trial | 24 | VAS 0–10 cm | Significant VAS decrease in the BQ10 group (p < 0.05). No difference in the control group (Bio-Antox alone). |
| Yokomori, et al. (15) | UDCA or UDCA + colestilan | UDCA 600 mg/day +/– colestilan 6.42 g/day | Open-label trial | 11 | VAS 0–10 cm | Significant decrease in itch compared with UDCA alone (p <0.05). |
UDCA: ursodeoxycholic acid; SAMe: S-adenosylmethionine; VAS: visual analogue scale.