Effect of oral granisetron in uremic pruritus.

BACKGROUND: Renal itch is a relatively common and distressing problem for patients with chronic renal failure. Granisetron, is a potent and selective inhibitor of 5-HT3 receptors. There have been some studies about the effect of ondansetron in uremic pruritus and one case report has recently described relief of renal itch with granisetron. AIMS: To evaluate the effect of Granisetron on uremic pruritus in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) and Hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: To study the prevalence of uremic pruritus, patients on CAPD and HD were asked to complete a pruritus questionnaire. Their replies were scored based on numerical scales. Pruritus was graded, according to the total points for each patient, as mild, moderate or severe. Fourteen patients with moderate to severe pruritus were enrolled in the trial. During treatment, patients received granisetron (1 mg tablet twice a day P.O), for a period of 1 month. They were asked to score the severity of pruritus twice a day. RESULTS: Seventy seven percent of the patients responded to the treatment and at 1 st, 2 nd and 4 th week the mean values of the pruritus scores were 23, 16 and 8 points respectively. Before starting treatment the score was 31 points (P =0.03). Weekly clinical and laboratory examination showed no important side effects. CONCLUSION: Granisetron might be an effective, safe and well tolerated drug for the treatment of uremic pruritus.

Comparison of tropisetron tropisterone plus dexamethasone granisetron and granisetron plus dexamethasone as anti-emetic propahylaxis after middle ear surgery

In a r and omized, placebo-controlled study the efficacy of a single intravenous [IV] bolus of tropisetron 5mg [Group T], granisetron 3mg [Group G]. tropisetron 5mg plus dexamethasone 8mg [Group T+D], granisetron 3mg plus dexamethasone 8mg [Group G+D], or saline [Group C] given at induction were compared in a group of 150 patients, [30, each group] undergoing middle ear surgery [MES]. The groups were similar with respect to demographic data and potential confounding variables. With regard to the incidence and score of postoperative nausea and vomiting [PONV] group [G+D] and group [T+D] were significantly superior to group T and G, [P<0.05]. Also tropisetron alone and in combination was significantly superior to granisetron, either alone or in combination [P<0.05]. It was reported that tropisetron was significantly superior to granisetron through 3 to 24 h than through 0 to 3 h. No statistical difference was reported between the four study groups with regard to rescue antiemetics or adverse events. In 5-hydroxy tryptamine type 3 [5-HT3] receptor antagonist tropisetron [5 mg] given as a single intravenous bolus at induction of anesthesia was excellent in preventing PONV and that combination of 5-HT3 antiemetic plus dexamethasone was more effective than each antiemetic alone for the prevention and treatment of PONV