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Study · Case report or series · n = 1 · 2025

3 results

Successful Use of Difelikefalin in Severe Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus in a Patient With Complex Etiological Contributors: A Case Report.

Werzowa JM, Hemetsberger M

Case reports in nephrology25 Feb 2025Cited by 1 (Europe PMC)

PMID40040639 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC11879566 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1155/crin/6626611 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-40040639
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Summary

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is a frequently experienced, unpleasant skin condition. Difelikefalin, an agonist of the kappa opioid receptor, is indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe CKD-aP in adult patients on hemodialysis. Reports of the effectiveness of difelikefalin in complex patient cases encountered in routine clinical practice are rare. Case Presentation: The presented patient had a complex interplay of morbidities, most notably diabetes mellitus type 2, tertiary hyperparathyroidism, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and CKD-associated mineral bone disease (CKD-MBD), all of which are associated with the development and severity of CKD-aP. The patient's CKD-aP was resistant to H1-receptor antagonists and gabapentin and showed no improvement after parathyroidectomy. Treatment with difelikefalin rapidly and sustainably improved symptoms, with a brief recurrence of itching toward the end of each long interdialytic interval. Apart from a short episode of vertigo at the initiation of treatment, no adverse events were observed over the long duration of treatment (currently more than 2.5 years). Conclusion: In a patient with longstanding conditions and multiple comorbidities, difelikefalin showed sustained effectiveness against H1-receptor antagonist- and gabapentin-resistant CKD-aP. Difelikefalin was well tolerated over the long term.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study3

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. 3 results from people.

  1. 01HumanCase report or seriesEfficacy outcome

    In a patient with CKD-associated pruritus and multiple comorbidities, difelikefalin improved symptoms, with brief itching recurrence before long interdialytic intervals ended.

    In plain wordsIn a patient with kidney disease, difelikefalin improved itching, with brief recurrence near the end of long intervals between dialysis sessions.

    Peptide
    Difelikefalin
    Outcome
    Direction not reportedSustained pruritus improvement with intermittent recurrence
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Skin and hair · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Treatment with difelikefalin rapidly and sustainably improved symptoms, with a brief recurrence of itching toward the end of each long interdialytic interval.
  2. 02HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    In a patient treated with difelikefalin for CKD-associated pruritus, a short vertigo episode occurred at treatment initiation.

    In plain wordsIn a patient receiving difelikefalin for kidney disease-related itching, brief vertigo occurred when treatment began.

    Peptide
    Difelikefalin
    Outcome
    Not applicableVertigo
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Apart from a short episode of vertigo at the initiation of treatment, no adverse events were observed over the long duration of treatment (currently more than 2.5 years).
  3. 03HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    In a patient receiving difelikefalin for more than 2.5 years, no adverse events other than initial vertigo were observed.

    In plain wordsIn a patient receiving difelikefalin, no adverse events other than initial vertigo occurred during prolonged treatment.

    Peptide
    Difelikefalin
    Outcome
    Not applicableOther adverse events over prolonged treatment
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Whole body
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · more than 2.5 yearsAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Apart from a short episode of vertigo at the initiation of treatment, no adverse events were observed over the long duration of treatment (currently more than 2.5 years).

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    28 Oct 2026, 02:03 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    27 Oct 2026, 16:35 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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