Electrical needle therapy of uremic pruritus

Abstract

Six patients with intractable uremic pruritus were treated with a modified acupuncture technique, the electrical needle stimulation (ENS). Results were followed with a pruritic score scale based on severity, frequency and distribution of itching, together with sleeping hours and waking up at night. The results were encouraging: pruritus was drastically improved during or after ENS in several patients. A control treatment with superficial electrical stimulation was ineffective.