Imbalance of Endogenous Opioids and Its Association With Pruritus Among Renal Transplant Recipients: A Cross-Sectional Study

IF 3.7 4区医学 Q1 DERMATOLOGY Dermatologic Therapy Pub Date : 2025-01-29 DOI:10.1155/dth/1915135

Piotr K. Krajewski, Aleksandra Sójka, Kinga Tyczyńska, Piotr Olczyk, Danuta Nowicka-Suszko, Magdalena Krajewska, Jacek C. Szepietowski

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Abstract

Background: Chronic pruritus (CP) is a common and distressing symptom among renal transplant recipients (RTRs), yet its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests that dysregulation of the endogenous opioid system may contribute to pruritus in various conditions, but its role in RTRs has not been thoroughly investigated.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the concentrations of specific endogenous opioids (β-endorphin, dynorphin A, met-enkephalin, and leu-enkephalin) in RTRs with and without pruritus to explore their potential role in pruritus pathogenesis.

Methods: A total of 129 RTRs and 47 healthy controls were included in the study. Serum levels of β-endorphin, dynorphin A, met-enkephalin, and leu-enkephalin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Pruritus severity was assessed using the Worst Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (WP-NRS) and the 4-Item Itch Questionnaire (4IIQ).

Results: Pruritic RTRs had significantly lower serum β-endorphin levels compared to nonpruritic RTRs (p = 0.008). However, there were no significant differences in dynorphin A, met-enkephalin, or leu-enkephalin levels between pruritic and nonpruritic RTRs or between RTRs and healthy controls. The β-endorphin to dynorphin A ratio also did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusion: The study suggests that disturbances in the endogenous opioid system, particularly involving β-endorphin, may play a role in the pathogenesis of pruritus in RTRs. Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms and to explore potential therapeutic interventions targeting the opioid system in this population.

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来源期刊

Dermatologic Therapy 医学-皮肤病学

CiteScore

7.00

自引率

8.30%

发文量

711

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Dermatologic Therapy has been created to fill an important void in the dermatologic literature: the lack of a readily available source of up-to-date information on the treatment of specific cutaneous diseases and the practical application of specific treatment modalities. Each issue of the journal consists of a series of scholarly review articles written by leaders in dermatology in which they describe, in very specific terms, how they treat particular cutaneous diseases and how they use specific therapeutic agents. The information contained in each issue is so practical and detailed that the reader should be able to directly apply various treatment approaches to daily clinical situations. Because of the specific and practical nature of this publication, Dermatologic Therapy not only serves as a readily available resource for the day-to-day treatment of patients, but also as an evolving therapeutic textbook for the treatment of dermatologic diseases.