Scabies

Researchers are evaluating whether cervical traction can help reduce the use of GABAergic medications, such as gabapentin or pregabalin, in people experiencing neuropathic itch on the scalp, arm, or upper back without primary skin rash. This pilot study aims to understand if using a neck traction device can lower medication dosage while managing itch severity. The study is sponsored by Mayo Clinic and focuses on adults aged 18 and older who are on stable doses of these medications. Participants will use a cervical traction device at home daily for 12 weeks while continuing their current prescriptions for gabapentin or pregabalin. Every two weeks during the study, participants will complete electronic surveys to report their itch severity. Based on these survey results, the study team may adjust their medication dosage by up to 33% to find the optimal treatment balance. During the 12-week period, participants will be regularly monitored through surveys assessing itch severity at multiple time points. Researchers will measure changes in GABAergic medication use from the start to the end of the study and track itch severity scores throughout. The study involves ongoing communication with the team, medication adjustments, and adherence to device use and questionnaire completion to evaluate treatment effects and safety.

Researchers are studying the natural history and treatment of leishmanial infections in patients aged 3 to 100 years. The study aims to better understand leishmaniasis, improve diagnostic tests, and observe how different species and host factors affect disease resistance and relapse. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is leading this observational research. Patients suspected or known to have leishmaniasis will undergo routine blood tests and biopsies tailored to the infection type: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, or visceral. Treatment varies by infection type and may include medications like Pentostam, amphotericin B, itraconazole, or ketoconazole with different dosing schedules and administration methods such as infusions or oral pills. Some patients may have skin tests similar to tuberculin testing, and treatments involve monitoring through blood draws, electrocardiograms, and urinalysis. Participants may have photographs taken and provide extra blood samples for research. Follow-up visits depend on the infection type, ranging from short-term (2 weeks to 3 months) for cutaneous cases to indefinite routine evaluations every 3 to 6 months for mucocutaneous and visceral infections. Researchers will assess clinical and immune responses, treatment safety and effectiveness, and collect genetic and immune data over time to understand infection outcomes.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an unpredictable adverse reaction to medications taken at therapeutic doses, often causing itching and impacting quality of life. This study focuses on the itching (pruritus) associated with cholestatic or mixed patterns of DILI, which can cause long-lasting effects. Researchers aim to better understand the incidence, natural history, and impact of itching in patients with DILI and to establish a network of centers for future clinical trials of new treatments. The study is observational and will track patients diagnosed with suspected acute DILI based on specific liver enzyme and bilirubin levels. It will gather detailed information on itching symptoms, genetic factors, and health status over several years. No investigational treatments are administered; instead, the study collects data to help identify which patients might benefit from future therapies. Participants will be monitored for up to four years with regular assessments of itching incidence, duration, severity, and genetic analysis. Patient-reported health status is also recorded to understand quality of life impacts. The primary outcome is the incidence of itching over two years. Safety and health monitoring continue throughout the study duration, with the total participation period lasting up to four years.

This research aims to test how well Dupixent works to improve itching symptoms that happen after burns, compared to the current standard treatments. The study focuses on adults with post-burn hypertrophic scars who continue to experience itching despite standard care. It is a phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled trial sponsored by Akron Children's Hospital. Participants will receive six injections of either Dupixent or a placebo over a 12-week period. The dosing starts with two 300 mg loading doses followed by one 300 mg dose every two weeks. Injections are given under the skin in areas such as the thigh, lower abdomen, or upper arm. No dose changes will be made during the study, and the first two doses will be given at separate injection sites. During the 13 weeks of participation, individuals will complete questionnaires that assess daily itch severity, quality of life, treatment benefit, physical functioning, and pain interference. Researchers will measure outcomes using the Itch Severity Scale after 12 weeks. The study includes close monitoring and visits to complete all assessments and injections within the set timeline.

Researchers are studying the effects of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) dialysis membranes on the intensity of itching (pruritus) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5D who are receiving maintenance hemodialysis. The trial compares PMMA membranes to standard polysulfone membranes to see if PMMA can reduce moderate-to-severe itching and improve quality of life related to pruritus. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive maintenance hemodialysis using either PMMA membranes or polysulfone membranes for 2 months. The PMMA membrane is a device with unique adsorption properties, while polysulfone membranes are widely used for effective removal of toxins during dialysis. Each group undergoes their assigned treatment over the study period. During the study, participants will complete questionnaires measuring the intensity of itching and its impact on daily life. Researchers will assess outcomes using the 5D Elman Itch Scale and other itch-related scores from enrollment through 8 weeks of treatment and during 4 weeks of follow-up. Blood tests for inflammation and iron stores will also be monitored. The study runs from January 2025 to October 2025, with all visits and assessments designed to track the effects of the dialysis membranes on pruritus.

Researchers are evaluating the efficacy and safety of dupilumab in adults aged 18 to 90 years who have chronic pruritus of unknown origin (CPUO). This study consists of two parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trials (Study A and Study B) designed to assess dupilumab treatment effects, with Study B's design adapting based on Study A's results. Participants must have severe itch lasting at least six months and confirmed by specific scoring systems. After up to a 4-week screening period, participants enter a 4-week run-in phase where they receive a non-sedative antihistamine and moisturizer. Those with severe itch scores are then randomly assigned to receive either dupilumab or placebo injections subcutaneously every two weeks for 24 weeks, alongside the antihistamine and moisturizer. Following treatment, a 12-week follow-up period monitors participants. Participants will be involved for up to 44 weeks total, including screening, run-in, treatment, and follow-up. Researchers will assess improvements in itch severity using the Worst-Itch Numerical Rating Scale (WI-NRS) and other measures such as quality of life, sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression scores. Safety will be monitored through adverse event tracking and antibody development against dupilumab during and after treatment.

Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are common inflammatory skin conditions involving severe itching and skin inflammation, affecting over 120 million people worldwide. These diseases cause distress due to intense itching that leads to a cycle of scratching and worsened symptoms, impacting quality of life and mental health. Researchers are evaluating whether mindfulness meditation, a mental training method to regulate stress and emotions, can reduce itching and improve well-being in patients with moderate pruritic psoriasis or atopic dermatitis who are not using systemic treatments. The study compares two groups: one participates in an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program featuring weekly 2.5-hour sessions, longer first and last sessions, an optional 6-hour intensive practice day, and guidance by an instructor using meditation, stretching, yoga, and group discussions. The other group receives standard care with no additional intervention. Audio recordings and a manual support home practice for the MBSR group. Participants will be assessed for itching severity using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at 8 weeks as the primary outcome. Additional evaluations include itch scales, stress markers in saliva and serum, skin lesion severity indexes, number of scratches per day, use of dermatocorticoids, and psychological stress scales at 8 and 16 weeks. The study involves randomized allocation without blinding and monitors changes in symptoms and quality of life over this period.

Researchers are comparing two treatments, ivermectin and moxidectin, to find out which is more effective at reducing onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, through mass drug administration (MDA) in Angola. Both drugs are approved by the FDA for this disease. The study also examines how these treatments affect other common infections in the area, such as intestinal worms and scabies. It aims to understand their impact on reducing disease prevalence and transmission, and how communities respond to these treatments. The trial involves 20 groups of villages randomly assigned to receive either moxidectin or ivermectin once a year for four years. Moxidectin is given as a single oral dose of 8 mg (four 2 mg tablets), while ivermectin is dosed by height with between one and four 3 mg tablets per dose. Before each treatment round, researchers collect skin, stool, and blood samples from selected participants to monitor infection levels and other health indicators. Participants will be involved in yearly treatment rounds for four years, with regular sample collections before each treatment to assess infection prevalence and intensity. Researchers will also test blackflies that transmit the disease and conduct genetic tests on parasites to evaluate transmission changes. The main outcome is the presence of Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae 36 months after the first treatment, alongside various secondary measures of infection and disease signs. The study may continue monitoring through 2029 to guide future disease control policies.

Researchers are studying the effects of combining virtual reality (VR) and hypnosis to reduce chronic itch, a condition that causes ongoing discomfort and has limited treatment options. This study focuses on adults aged 18 to 80 who have had persistent, therapy-resistant itch for at least one year and suffer psychological or functional difficulties due to their condition. The aim is to evaluate whether VR-assisted hypnosis (VRH) can lessen itch and its related mental burden compared to a waiting list control group. Participants in the VRH group will attend a total of 8 sessions, including a baseline, 6 intervention sessions, and a follow-up session. During each intervention, they receive hypnotic induction combined with VR immersion designed specifically for chronic itch patients. They also practice guided self-hypnosis at home daily using audio recordings with antipruritic suggestions. The control group will complete baseline, final, and follow-up sessions with questionnaires and itch sensitivity tests but will not receive the VRH treatment during the study period. Throughout the study, participants will complete questionnaires measuring itch intensity, the impact of skin disease on daily life, anxiety and depression symptoms, and medical treatment needs at baseline, after the intervention, and at follow-up about six weeks later. Itch sensitivity tests using cowhage plant particles will also be performed. Researchers will monitor these outcomes to assess the effectiveness of VRH. The total study duration includes these sessions and follow-up assessments, allowing evaluation of both immediate and longer-term effects.

This research aims to evaluate the safety and tolerability of intravenous difelikefalin in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years who are on haemodialysis and suffer from moderate to severe itching related to long-term kidney disease. The study also explores how much difelikefalin enters the bloodstream in this age group. Previous clinical studies have shown difelikefalin to reduce itching in adults on haemodialysis, and this study focuses on assessing its safety in younger patients. Participants will receive difelikefalin intravenously at a dose of 0.5 micrograms per kilogram of dry body weight, administered three times weekly during their haemodialysis sessions for up to 12 weeks. The study includes a screening period lasting up to 4 weeks, which features a 7-day run-in phase before enrollment, followed by the treatment period and a safety follow-up visit 7 to 10 days after treatment ends. The total duration of participation for each adolescent is up to 17 to 18 weeks. During the study, participants will visit the clinic three times per week coinciding with their haemodialysis treatments. Researchers will monitor safety by tracking adverse events throughout the study period, lasting up to 18 weeks. They will also measure difelikefalin blood levels at selected times and explore the effect of the medicine on itching severity and quality of life. Participants will undergo regular assessments and safety follow-up to ensure close monitoring during and shortly after treatment.