RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Cholestatic pruritus may severely compromise quality of life. The Molecular Adsorbents Recirculating System (MARS) allows removal of pruritogenic substances without exposure to foreign proteins. Pediatric data, however, are scant. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of MARS in three boys with severe cholestatic pruritus. They received a total of 135 MARS sessions during 8, 4, and 13 months prior to liver transplantation. Total serum bilirubin and bile acids were monitored, and pruritus was assessed by a numerical rating scale (NRS 0 = no pruritus, 10 = maximal pruritus). RESULTS: MARS sessions were initially performed three times weekly at a mean duration of 6.3 ± 1.4 h. Sessions could be reduced to once weekly and once every other week in two patients. Pre-MARS plasma bile acid concentrations averaged 207 ± 67 µmol/l. They declined to 67 ± 9%, 48 ± 3%, 38 ± 14%, and 37 ± 5% of baseline within 2, 4, 6 and 8 h of therapy, respectively (all p < 0.05). The average interdialytic increase of plasma bile acids was 34 ± 33 µmol/l per day. Mean NRS score decreased from 6.5 ± 2.3 to 3.3 ± 2.9 (p < 0.01). Skin lesions from itching disappeared. All MARS treatments were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: MARS dialysis substantially reduces cholestatic pruritus in children refractory to pharmacological treatment.