Pharmacotherapeutic considerations for chronic pain in chronic kidney and end-stage renal disease

Abstract

Roy O Mathew,1 Jeffrey J Bettinger,2 Erica L Wegrzyn,3 Jeffrey Fudin3,4 1Department of Medicine, Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia, SC, 2Department of Professional Practice, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 3Department of Pharmacy, Albany Stratton VA Medical Center, Albany, 4Scientific and Clinical Affairs, Remitigate, LLC, Delmar, NY, USAIn hemodialysis (HD) patients, the prevalence of chronic pain can be up to 92%.1 A survey of HD patients found 55% reported a severe pain episode in the previous 24 hours.2 Furthermore, ~75% of HD patients report inadequate pain management.2 Despite these shocking statistics there is no universally accepted guideline for the treatment of pain in HD patients. Nevertheless, poorly managed pain in HD patients promulgates psychological disturbances, impaired sleep, decreased dialysis compliance, and an overall decline in quality of life.1

Keywords

• Chronic Pain
• End Stage Renal Disease
• Hemodialysis