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Clinical Effect of Opioid Antagonists on Clinical Pruritus

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Opiate Receptors and Antagonists

Part of the book series: Contemporary Neuroscience ((CNEURO))

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Abstract

Increased opioidergic tone is associated with pruritus. Evidence suggests that in cholestasis there is increased opioidergic tone. The amelioration of the pruritus of cholestasis and its behavioral manifestation, scratching activity, by opiate antagonists supports the idea that this type of neurotransmission contributes at least in part, to the pruritus experienced by patients with liver disease. Opiate antagonists have been reported to decrease pruritus associated with other conditions including malignancy and kidney disease, suggesting that increase in opioidergic tone contributes to the pathophysiology of chronic pruritus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Metropolitan Hospital Center, Department of Medicine, New York, NY, 10029

    Nora V. Bergasa

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  1. Nora V. Bergasa
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Life Sciences/Toxicology, Alkermes, Inc., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA

    Reginald L. Dean III

  2. Department of Pharmacology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of New England, Biddleford, ME, 04005, USA

    Edward J. Bilsky

  3. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA

    S. Stevens Negus

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Bergasa, N.V. (2009). Clinical Effect of Opioid Antagonists on Clinical Pruritus. In: Dean, R.L., Bilsky, E.J., Negus, S.S. (eds) Opiate Receptors and Antagonists. Contemporary Neuroscience. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-197-0_29

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