Comparison of Efficacy of Gabapentin Versus Cetirizine in Patients with Post-Burn Pruritus
Main Article Content
Abstract
Objective: To compare the efficacy of gabapentin and cetirizine in the management of post-burn pruritus.
Methodology: This was designed as a comparative study carried out in Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, from September 2020 to February 2021. A total of 100 patients with post-burn pruritus were included in the study. The subjects were randomly assigned by lottery method into one of two groups: Group A: gabapentin group or Group B: cetirizine group. The 50 patients allotted to Group A received gabapentin for their post-burn pruritus, whereas the 50 patients assigned to Group B received cetirizine. The efficacy of both drugs in post-burn pruritus management was noted.
Results: The results showed that 90% (n=45) patients in Group A showed a VAS score of zero, i.e. efficacy of gabapentin was 90%. In contrast, only 50% (n=25) patients in Group B showed VAS=0, i.e. the efficacy of cetirizine was 50%. The result was statistically significant.
Conclusion: In conclusion, this study noted that management of post-burn pruritus with gabapentin monotherapy was significantly more effective than cetirizine.
Article Details
Work published in JPMI is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic License.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
References
Chung BY, Kim HB, Jung MJ, Kang SY, Kwak IS, Park CW, et al. Post-burn pruritus. Int J Mol Sci 2020;21(11):3880. DOI: 10.3390/ijms21113880.
Andrade LF, Abdi P, Kooner A, Eldaboush AM, Dhami RK, Natarelli N, et al. Treatment of post-burn pruritus – A systematic review and meta-analysis. Burns 2024;50(2):293-301.
Raj Zachariah J, Rao A, Prabha R, Gupta A, Paul MK, Lamba S. Post burn pruritus—A review of current treatment options. Burns J Int Soc Burn Inj 2012;38:621-9.
Iakmiu Camargo Cabulon EA, Cardoso JR, Maciel SM, Martins JT, do Carmo Cruz Robazzi ML, Maciel Cardelli AA. Quality of life of individuals treated in an outpatient burn treatment centre: Application of the BSHS-R. Burns J Int Soc Burn Inj 2015;41(3):528-35.
Visual Analogue Scale: Evaluation of the Instrument for the Assessment of Pruritus [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jun 11]. Available from: http://www.medicaljournals.se/acta/content/html/10.2340/00015555-126
Markiewicz-Gospodarek A, Koziol M, Tobiasz M, Baj J, Radzikowska-Buchner E, Przekora A. Burn wound healing: Clinical complications, medical care, treatment, and dressing types: The current state of knowledge for clinical practice. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022;19(3):1338.
Fowler E, Yosipovitch G. Post-burn pruritus and its management—Current and new avenues for treatment. Curr Trauma Rep 2019;5(2):90-8.
McCorquodale A. Post-Burn Pruritus: A Debilitating and Persistent Condition [Internet]. ITT Blog | Integra LifeSciences. 2021 [cited 2024 Jun 11]. Available from: https://tissuetechnologies.integralife.com/post-burn-pruritus-a-debilitating-and-persistent-condition/
Purnamawati S, Indrastuti N, Danarti R, Saefudin T. The Role of Moisturizers in Addressing Various Kinds of Dermatitis: A Review. Clin Med Res 2017;15(3-4):75-87.
Goutos I, Clarke M, Upson C, Richardson PM, Ghosh SJ. Review of therapeutic agents for burns pruritus and protocols for management in adult and paediatric patients using the GRADE classification. Indian J Plast Surg Off Publ Assoc Plast Surg India 2010;43(Suppl):S51-62.
Kaul I, Amin A, Rosenberg M, Rosenberg L, Meyer WJ. Use of gabapentin and pregabalin for pruritus and neuropathic pain associated with major burn injury: A retrospective chart review. Burns J Int Soc Burn Inj 2018;44(2):414-22.
Ahuja RB, Gupta R, Gupta G, Shrivastava P. A comparative analysis of cetirizine, gabapentin and their combination in the relief of post-burn pruritus. Burns J Int Soc Burn Inj 2011;37(2):203-7.
Vitale M, Fields-Blache C, Luterman A. Severe itching in the patient with burns. J Burn Care Rehabil 1991;12(4):330-3.
Brooks JP, Malic CC, Judkins KC. Scratching the surface--Managing the itch associated with burns: a review of current knowledge. Burns J Int Soc Burn Inj 2008;34(6):751-60.
Mendham JE. Gabapentin for the treatment of itching produced by burns and wound healing in children: a pilot study. Burns J Int Soc Burn Inj 2004;30(8):851-3.
Yesudian PD, Wilson NJE. Efficacy of gabapentin in the management of pruritus of unknown origin. Arch Dermatol 2005;141(12):1507-9.
Winhoven SM, Coulson IH, Bottomley WW. Brachioradial pruritus: response to treatment with gabapentin. Br J Dermatol 2004;150(4):786-7.
Yosipovitch G, Greaves MW, Schmelz M. Itch. The Lancet 2003 Feb 22;361(9358):690-4.
Ahuja RB, Bhattacharya S. Burns in the developing world and burn disasters. BMJ 2004 Aug 21;329(7463):447-9.