ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Abstract: FR-PO876

The Moisturizer Improves Pruritus of Dialysis Patients by Increasing Water Content in the Stratum Corneum

Session Information

Category: Dialysis

  • 607 Dialysis: Epidemiology, Outcomes, Clinical Trials - Non-Cardiovascular

Authors

  • Yoshida, Yukie, Kidney Clinic, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
  • Hashimoto, Kazumasa, Kidney Clinic, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
  • Saeki, Hidehisa, Department of Dermatorogy, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
  • Fujimoto, Seiki, Maruho Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
  • Tsuruoka, Shuichi, Department of Nephrology,Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
Background

In dialysis patients, skin disorder (dryness, itching, etc.) is frequently observed and treated with moisturizers without sufficient evidence. We therefore evaluated the usefulness of a moisturizer in the treatment of dry skin in dialysis patients in an exploratory manner.

Methods

This study was an open-label, randomized, before-after, parallel group comparison study conducted after approval by the Institutional Review Board of Nippon Medical School. The study was funded by Maruho Co., Ltd. (Osaka, Japan), and registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN000017016. Included were 12 maintenance hemodialysis outpatients in stable condition in our hospital, randomized to receive treatment with a lotion containing heparinoid (Maruho) for 2 weeks followed by 2-week washout (Group A: 6 subjects) or another 2-week treatment (Group B: 6 subjects). The primary efficacy measure was water content in the stratum corneum in the hypochondrium (flank). Secondary measures included visual analogue scale (VAS) itching score. Safety was evaluated based on adverse events.Efficacy data were collected on Day 1 and after 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks of treatment, on which the water content was measured using a Corneometer (Courage-Khazaka) at 1 to 2 hours after the start of dialysis.Subjects additionally assessed their itching at the application site on a 100-mm VAS before dialysis.

Results

The moisture in the stratum corneum significantly increased at Weeks 1 and 2, then significantly decreased in Group A, in which study treatment was discontinued, but was almost maintained in Group B, in which treatment was continued. Itching VAS score significantly decreased at Weeks 1 and 2, indicating reduction of itching, then increased in Group A, suggesting that itching returned to the baseline condition. The score decreased in Group B, indicating further reduction of itching. At Week 4, the score was significantly different between Groups A and B. As for safety, mild upper respiratory tract infection was reported in 1 subject during treatment, but was not related to study treatment.

Conclusion

Continuous moisture retention with a preparation containing heparinoid may be effective and safe to reduce dry skin and maintain good skin condition in dialysis patients.

Funding

  • Commercial Support – Maruho Co., Ltd. (Osaka, Japan),