PRURITUS ASSOCIATED WITH LIVER-DISEASE - PROPOFOL, A NEW SYMPTOMATIC APPROACH

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.