A randomized two‐sided placebo‐controlled study on the efficacy and safety of atmospheric non‐thermal argon plasma for pruritus. (22nd December 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Heinlin, J.; Isbary, G.; Stolz, W.; Zeman, F.; Landthaler, M.; Morfill, G.; Shimizu, T.; Zimmermann, J.L.; Karrer, S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. Volume 27:Number 3(2013:Mar.)
• Page Start: 324
• Page End: 331
• Publication Date: 2011-12-22
• Subjects: Dermatology -- Periodicals; Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.04395.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0926-9959

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>Background </bold> To look into new potential indications for physical plasma and because some reports suggest plasma having antipruritic effects, we investigated the treatment of pruritus that often represents a therapeutic challenge.</p> <p> <bold>Objectives </bold> To assess the efficacy and safety of cold atmospheric argon plasma as add‐on‐therapy in pruritic diseases.</p> <p> <bold>Methods </bold> We treated 46 patients with various pruritic diseases with cold plasma for 2 min daily in addition to standard treatment. All patients served as their own control, when their pruritic disease was treated with argon gas (placebo). The outcome measure was a long‐term and short‐term reduction in itching measured by means of a visual analogue score (VAS).</p> <p> <bold>Results </bold> The VAS scores at baseline were comparable (plasma 4.57, SD 2.38, argon 4.34, SD 2.35). We did not find any significant differences in VAS reduction between plasma and argon: long‐term VAS difference of 1.97 (SD 1.33) for plasma and 1.74 (SD 2.37) for argon [<italic>P</italic> = 0.224, 95% CI: (−0.15; 0.60)], short‐term VAS difference of 1.92 (SD 1.33) for plasma and 1.97 (SD 1.29) for argon [<italic>P</italic> = 0.544, 95% CI: (−0.21; 0.11)]. In both groups, patients experienced a significant reduction of pruritus at the end of therapy compared to baseline [plasma 1.97 (<italic>P</italic> < 0.0001), placebo 1.74 [<italic>P</italic> < 0.0001)]. No relevant side effects occurred, and treatment was well tolerated.</p> <p> <bold>Conclusions </bold> Treatment with cold plasma did not result in higher pruritus reduction than treatment with placebo. A significant reduction of pruritus compared to no effect was found at the end of therapy in both groups. Both treatment options had similar safety profiles.</p> </abstract>