1. Systemic Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonists in the Treatment of Chronic Pruritus: A Literature Review.
- Author
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Phan, Ngoc Quan, Lotts, Tobias, Antal, Attila, Bernhard, Jeffrey D., and Ständer, Sonja
- Subjects
OPIOID receptors ,CHEMICAL agonists ,ITCHING ,CENTRAL nervous system ,ANTIPRURITICS ,KERATINOCYTES - Abstract
Chronic pruritus is frequently refractory to currently available treatments. Studies suggest that pruritus may arise from an imbalance of the mu- and kappa-opioid receptor system activity in either the skin or the central nervous system. Stimulation of kappa-opioid receptors by their agonists inhibits pruritus in both animals and humans. The antipruritic effect of kappa-opioid receptors agonists can currently be assumed to be related to their binding to kappa-opioid receptors on keratinocytes and cutaneous and/or central itch neurones. To date, several case reports and 2 controlled trials have demonstrated a beneficial effect of systemic kappa-opioid receptor agonists in the treatment of uraemic pruritus, prurigo nodularis, paraneoplastic and cholestatic pruritus. Nalfurafine hydrochloride (Remitch®), a selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist, is approved for the treatment of chronic pruritus in Japan. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the promising role of kappa-opioid receptors and their agonist in the pathophysiology and treatment of pruritus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
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