Interventions for Chronic Pruritus of Unknown Origin
January 2020
in “
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
”
Studysummary This study found that serlopitant may reduce pruritus intensity compared to placebo in patients with chronic pruritus of unknown origin, though evidence is of low certainty and effects on other outcomes are unclear.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
The study aimed to assess interventions for chronic pruritus of unknown origin (CPUO) but found a lack of evidence for most treatments. Only one study with 257 participants evaluated the neurokinin 1 receptor antagonist serlopitant, suggesting it may reduce pruritus intensity compared to placebo, though the evidence was of low certainty. The study did not provide conclusive results on other outcomes like adverse events, quality of life, or sleep disturbances due to very low-certainty evidence. The study highlighted the need for more research with larger sample sizes focused on CPUO patients, as current evidence is insufficient for guiding treatment decisions.
