Low-Dose Naltrexone for Pruritus in Systemic Sclerosis

Low-Dose Naltrexone for Pruritus in Systemic Sclerosis

Pruritus is a common symptom in systemic sclerosis (SSc), an autoimmune disease which causes fibrosis and vasculopathy in skin, lung, and gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Unfortunately, pruritus has limited treatment options in this disease. Pilot trials of low-dose naltrexone hydrochloride (LDN) for p...

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Main Authors: Tracy Frech, Kirsten Novak, Monica P. Revelo, Maureen Murtaugh, Boaz Markewitz, Nathan Hatton, Mary Beth Scholand, Edward Frech, David Markewitz, Allen D. Sawitzke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2011-01-01
Series:International Journal of Rheumatology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/804296
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spelling doaj-bcd5ce891f7b49d29b954570b0a039152020-11-24T23:01:56ZengHindawi LimitedInternational Journal of Rheumatology1687-92601687-92792011-01-01201110.1155/2011/804296804296Low-Dose Naltrexone for Pruritus in Systemic SclerosisTracy Frech0Kirsten Novak1Monica P. Revelo2Maureen Murtaugh3Boaz Markewitz4Nathan Hatton5Mary Beth Scholand6Edward Frech7David Markewitz8Allen D. Sawitzke9Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USADepartment of Medicine, Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, 84148 UT, USADepartment of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USADivision of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USADivision of Respiratory, Critical Care and Occupational Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USADivision of Respiratory, Critical Care and Occupational Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USADivision of Respiratory, Critical Care and Occupational Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USAMountain West Gastroenterology, Salt Lake City, UT 84107, USAUniversity of Utah Scleroderma Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USADivision of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USAPruritus is a common symptom in systemic sclerosis (SSc), an autoimmune disease which causes fibrosis and vasculopathy in skin, lung, and gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Unfortunately, pruritus has limited treatment options in this disease. Pilot trials of low-dose naltrexone hydrochloride (LDN) for pruritus, pain, and quality of life (QOL) in other GIT diseases have been successful. In this case series we report three patients that had significant improvement in pruritus and total GIT symptoms as measured by the 10-point faces scale and the University of California Los Angeles Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium Gastrointestinal Tract 2.0 (UCLA SCTC GIT 2.0) questionnaire. This small case series suggests LDN may be an effective, highly tolerable, and inexpensive treatment for pruritus and GIT symptoms in SSc.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/804296
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Tracy Frech
Kirsten Novak
Monica P. Revelo
Maureen Murtaugh
Boaz Markewitz
Nathan Hatton
Mary Beth Scholand
Edward Frech
David Markewitz
Allen D. Sawitzke
spellingShingle Tracy Frech
Kirsten Novak
Monica P. Revelo
Maureen Murtaugh
Boaz Markewitz
Nathan Hatton
Mary Beth Scholand
Edward Frech
David Markewitz
Allen D. Sawitzke
Low-Dose Naltrexone for Pruritus in Systemic Sclerosis
International Journal of Rheumatology
author_facet Tracy Frech
Kirsten Novak
Monica P. Revelo
Maureen Murtaugh
Boaz Markewitz
Nathan Hatton
Mary Beth Scholand
Edward Frech
David Markewitz
Allen D. Sawitzke
author_sort Tracy Frech
title Low-Dose Naltrexone for Pruritus in Systemic Sclerosis
title_short Low-Dose Naltrexone for Pruritus in Systemic Sclerosis
title_full Low-Dose Naltrexone for Pruritus in Systemic Sclerosis
title_fullStr Low-Dose Naltrexone for Pruritus in Systemic Sclerosis
title_full_unstemmed Low-Dose Naltrexone for Pruritus in Systemic Sclerosis
title_sort low-dose naltrexone for pruritus in systemic sclerosis
publisher Hindawi Limited
series International Journal of Rheumatology
issn 1687-9260
1687-9279
publishDate 2011-01-01
description Pruritus is a common symptom in systemic sclerosis (SSc), an autoimmune disease which causes fibrosis and vasculopathy in skin, lung, and gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Unfortunately, pruritus has limited treatment options in this disease. Pilot trials of low-dose naltrexone hydrochloride (LDN) for pruritus, pain, and quality of life (QOL) in other GIT diseases have been successful. In this case series we report three patients that had significant improvement in pruritus and total GIT symptoms as measured by the 10-point faces scale and the University of California Los Angeles Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium Gastrointestinal Tract 2.0 (UCLA SCTC GIT 2.0) questionnaire. This small case series suggests LDN may be an effective, highly tolerable, and inexpensive treatment for pruritus and GIT symptoms in SSc.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/804296
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