A. Borgeat et al., PRURITUS ASSOCIATED WITH LIVER-DISEASE - PROPOFOL, A NEW SYMPTOMATIC APPROACH, Schweizerische medizinische Wochenschrift, 124(15), 1994, pp. 649-650
Pruritus is a severe and troublesome symptom in patients with cholesta
sis and is often difficult to treat. Propofol was recently shown to be
efficient in the treatment of pruritus secondary to spinal morphine a
dministration. In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, crossover a
nd placebo controlled study, 20 patients received 1 dose of propofol (
15 mg) and 1 dose of Intralipid(R) (1,5 mg) during a 2-day study perio
d. Pruritus was assessed by a visual analogue scale from 0 (no pruritu
s) to 10 (most severe pruritus imaginable). Treatment success was defi
ned as a decrease in pruritus of at least 4 points on the scale in 80%
of the patients receiving propofol and in 15% of those receiving intr
alipid (p <0.05). Discomfort on injection was observed in 15% under pr
opofol treatment. In conclusion this study shows that subhypnotic dose
s of propofol are effective for the shortterm symptomatic relief of pr
uritus associated with liver disease. At the dose administered, side e
ffects were rare and minor.