Comparison of Sertraline with Rifampin in the treatment of Cholestatic pruritus: A randomized clinical trial
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Pruritus is one of the most common and disabling symptoms of liver disease such as Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Primary Biliary Cholangitis. Cholestyramine, rifampin, opioid antagonists, antihistaminic agents and SSRIs are used to management of pruritus. Due to rifampin drug interactions as well as its serious side effects such as hepatotoxicity clinicians attempt to find a safer and a more effective substitution.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of sertraline with rifampin in the management of cholestatic pruritus.
METHOD
In a single-blinded randomized clinical trial a total of 36 patients of PSC and PBC were divided into two equal groups, one group received 100 mg/day sertraline and the other group received rifampin 300 mg/day for 4 weeks. Visual analog scale was used to record pruritus severity at baseline and 4 weeks after drug intervention, also, ALT, AST, ALP and total bilirubin of all patients were measured at three different time points.
RESULTS
Over the follow-up period, pruritus had relieved in both groups, but there was no significant differences between sertraline and rifampin in pruritus management (pvalue=0.740), also there was no significant difference between the two intervention strategies (A versus B) in total bilirubin level (pvalue=0.106). Moreover, the ALT, AST and ALP levels was found to be significantly different between two groups (Pvalue˂0.01).
CONCLUSION
There is no difference between…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 36 participants or records.
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