ArticleJAAD international2022
Modulation of the kappa and mu opioid axis for the treatment of chronic pruritus: A review of basic science and clinical implications.
Article in JAAD international, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 21 citations in OpenAlex.
- Influence of Concomitant Opioids on Difelikefalin Treatment Outcomes in Adults with Moderate-to-Severe Pruritus on Maintenance Hemodialysis: Exploratory Analyses.Kidney & blood pressure research · 2026Trial
- Difelikefalin improves itch-related sleep disruption in patients undergoing haemodialysis.Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association · 2024Trial
- From neuroimmune circuits to targeted therapy of chronic pruritus.Pharmacological reviews · 2026Review
- Literature Review: Recent Therapeutic Advances in The Management of Prurigo Nodularis: From Conventional Therapy to Biologics and Targeted Small-Molecule Agents.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2026Review
- Extracellular processing of proopiomelanocortin generates short beta endorphin that regulates rat keratinocytes via the delta opioid receptor.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Practical guide for the diagnosis and treatment of localized and generalized cutaneous pruritus (chronic itch with no underlying pruritic dermatosis).The Journal of dermatology · 2025Review
- Prurigo nodularis: new insights into pathogenesis and novel therapeutics.The British journal of dermatology · 2024Review
- Emerging concepts in neuropathic and neurogenic itch.Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology · 2023Review
- Evaluation, management and future perspectives of anal pruritus: a narrative review.European journal of medical research · 2023Review
- Chronic Nodular Prurigo: An Update on the Pathogenesis and Treatment.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
- Kappa opioid agonists in the treatment of itch: just scratching the surface?Itch (Philadelphia, Pa.)Article
- Chronic kidney disease and itch.Itch (Philadelphia, Pa.)Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Introduction: Treating chronic pruritus is challenging for dermatologists due to the lack of therapeutic options. We review the effects of κ-opioid receptor (KOR) and μ-opioid receptor (MOR) in the modulation of itch, summarize evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of opioid receptor-targeting agents in chronic pruritus, and address clinical considerations. Results: Preclinical studies have found neural pathways underlying detection, transmission, and modulation of itch signaling and spotlighted the importance of neuronal KOR and MOR in itch perception. Clinical reports suggest that opioid axis modulation may be the basis for the successful treatment of chronic itch. Several agents (MOR antagonist naltrexone; KOR agonists nalfurafine and difelikefalin; dual-acting KOR agonists/MOR antagonists butorphanol and nalbuphine) have been evaluated for treating chronic pruritus in case series, small studies, and clinical trials; nalbuphine has progressed through preliminary (phase II/III) studies in uremic pruritus and prurigo nodularis. The antipruritic efficacy of these agents has been observed across multiple disorders with disparate etiologies, suggesting the potential utility of this class to provide a unified approach to chronic pruritus treatment. Conclusions: The relative safety of these agents, including a reduced potential for dependence versus MOR-agonist analgesics, should help overcome resistance to the use of opioid receptor-targeting agents in chronic pruritus treatment.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.