A randomized two-sided placebo-controlled study on the efficacy and safety of atmospheric non-thermal argon plasma for pruritus

• Published in: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 2013-03, Vol.27 (3), p.324-331
• Main Authors: Heinlin, J., Isbary, G., Stolz, W., Zeman, F., Landthaler, M., Morfill, G., Shimizu, T., Zimmermann, J.L., Karrer, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Argon - adverse effects; Argon - therapeutic use; Atmosphere; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Placebos; Plasma Gases - adverse effects; Plasma Gases - therapeutic use; Prospective Studies; Pruritus - therapy; Visual Analog Scale
• ISSN: 0926-9959; 1468-3083
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.04395.x

Background  To look into new potential indications for physical plasma and because some reports suggest plasma having antipruritic effects, we investigated the treatment of pruritus that often represents a therapeutic challenge. Objectives  To assess the efficacy and safety of cold atmospheric argon plasma as add‐on‐therapy in pruritic diseases. Methods  We treated 46 patients with various pruritic diseases with cold plasma for 2 min daily in addition to standard treatment. All patients served as their own control, when their pruritic disease was treated with argon gas (placebo). The outcome measure was a long‐term and short‐term reduction in itching measured by means of a visual analogue score (VAS). Results  The VAS scores at baseline were comparable (plasma 4.57, SD 2.38, argon 4.34, SD 2.35). We did not find any significant differences in VAS reduction between plasma and argon: long‐term VAS difference of 1.97 (SD 1.33) for plasma and 1.74 (SD 2.37) for argon [P = 0.224, 95% CI: (−0.15; 0.60)], short‐term VAS difference of 1.92 (SD 1.33) for plasma and 1.97 (SD 1.29) for argon [P = 0.544, 95% CI: (−0.21; 0.11)]. In both groups, patients experienced a significant reduction of pruritus at the end of therapy compared to baseline [plasma 1.97 (P