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- Katya Meridor, Joshua Berookhim, and Yair Levy.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Meir Medical Center, Israel; affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
- Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Jan 28; 101 (4): e28653e28653.
RationalePruritus is a common symptom in patients with systemic sclerosis and has a tremendous effect on the quality of life. Nevertheless, current therapeutic options are limited. The pathogenesis of pruritus in systemic sclerosis is not completely understood; however, opiate-mediated neurotransmission has been postulated to be involved.Patient Concerns And DiagnosisWe describe 4 female patients with systemic sclerosis suffering from severe pruritus, with an average 5D-itch score of 22.75.Intervention And OutcomesLow-dose oral naloxone was initiated, followed by a significant improvement in the level of pruritus, reaching an average 5D-itch score of 7.5, after 6 and 12 months of treatment. None of the patients experienced side effects.LessonsLow-dose naloxone plays an important role in the management of pruritus in systemic sclerosis.Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
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