Clinical effect of sodium thiosulfate in hemodialysis patients with refractory skin itch

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of sodium thiosulfate in the treatment of refractory pruritus in hemodialysis patients. Methods The clinical data of 46 patients with refractory skin itch, who received 6 months of regular treatment with routine methods (including topical therapy, TCM method, antihistamine therapy, blood perfusion, hemodialysis filtration), were collected. The patients were divided into control group (n=23) and observation group (n=23) according to random number table method. The control group continued to receive routine treatment, the observation group added sodium thiosulfate on the basis of routine treatment, and the clinical efficacy of the two groups was compared. The main evaluation indicator was the pruritus score before and after treatment, and clinical efficacy (changes of some parameters including serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, serum phosphorus, parathyroid hormone) after 8 weeks of treatment.Results The total effectiveness rate of the observation group was 91.30%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (34.78%), with the difference of statistical significance (χ²=15.769, P<0.01). The skin pruritus score of the observation group was significantly improved compared with that before treatment and after treatment, and the differences had statistical significance (P<0.01). In the observation group, 1 patient had transient cold symptoms on the injection side after medication; 1 patient had chest distress after medication, which was relieved spontaneously 1 minute later. No fatal or unbearable adverse reactions were observed.Conclusions Sodium thiosulfate can effectively relieve pruritus in patients with refractory skin itch, with less side effects and significant efficacy.