A Case of Obstructive Jaundice-associated Pruritus Which Was not Improved by an Antihistamine and a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Treatment, but Was Responded to Nalfurafine Hydrochloride
- VernacularTitle:パロキセチンやヒドロキシジンが無効であった閉塞性黄疸による掻痒症にナルフラフィン塩酸塩が奏効した1例
- Author:
Yoshito Yoshikawa
;
Yoshinobu Matsuda
;
Sachiko Okayama
;
Juri Nimura
;
Minako Doi
;
Shinobu Nagata
- Keywords: nalfurafine hydrochloride; obstructive jaundice; pruritus
- From:Palliative Care Research 2017;12(1):506-510
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Introduction: We encountered a patient in whom pruritus was induced by obstructive jaundice associated with metastatic liver cancer. Nalfurafine hydrochloride, a selective κ receptor agonist, improved the patient’s pruritus. Case Presentation: The patient was a 70-year-old woman who developed metastatic liver tumor-associated jaundice after surgery for colorectal cancer. She developed pruritus, which was not improved by an antihistamine or a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment. Nalfurafine was administered for suspected central pruritus. The numerical rating scale for pruritus improved from 9 to 3. Discussion: Compared to other skin diseases such as urticaria and atopic dermatitis, pruritus that accompanies a systemic disease such as chronic renal failure and liver disease does not respond to existing therapeutic drugs in many patients. Chronic liver disease-associated pruritus is intractable and central. Pruritus through central and peripheral mechanisms was mixed in this patient; however, central pruritus may have been dominant. The antipruritic effect of nalfurafine has been confirmed. It may be an effective therapeutic drug for obstructive jaundice-associated pruritus.