We analyzed the characteristics of 671 patients with cirrhosis treated in our department between April 2014 and March 2016, and evaluated the therapeutic effects of nalfurafine hydrochloride in cirrhotic patients with refractory pruritus. Eighty-six patients (12.8%) of cirrhotic patients received oral antiallergic agents. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores significantly decreased, and the numbers of the patients with grade 2 or greater severity of pruritus in Kawashima's criteria significantly decreased in 25 patients who were compared VAS and Kawashima's criteria between baseline and 1-3 months after administration of nalfurafine. Nalfurafine was evaluated as effective in 18 patients (72.0%) by VAS scores, and AST levels tended to be higher in ineffective patients compared with effective patients. These results suggest that nalfurafine is expected to be effective in cirrhotic patients with refractory pruritus.
