ABSTRACT
Introduction@#Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) remains a frequent and distressing symptom in hemodialysis patients, fur- ther compromising their quality of life. Turmeric, or Curcuma longa, is a naturally-occurring, widely available product that inhibits major inflamma- tory mechanisms associated with CKD-aP.@*Objectives@#This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of turmeric 1% emollient cream versus a bland emollient in the reduction of chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus in hemodialysis patients.@*Methods@#This study was a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of the effect of turmeric 1% cream in the reduction of chronic kidney disease associated pruritus in hemodialysis patients compared to a bland emollient. The main outcome measure was the proportion of subjects who demonstrated response to treatment, as well as the incidence of adverse effects.@*Results@#Intention to treat analysis on 106 patients, 53 assigned to turmeric 1% cream and 53 to bland emollient cream, was done. There was a sig- nificant difference (P=0.03) in the proportion of patients who achieved treatment success between the turmeric group (66%) and bland emollient group (45%). The mean decrease in pruritus score (VAS) of the group treated with turmeric was significantly greater than that of the bland emol- lient group (P=0.018). No adverse effects were noted in both groups.@*Conclusion@#Among hemodialysis patients diagnosed with CKD-aP, topical application of turmeric 1% cream twice daily for four weeks was supe- rior to that of bland emollient cream based on efficacy and safety outcome measures.