Arsenic exposure and pruritus: Evidence from observational, interventional, and mendelian randomization studies

Background: Pruritus is identified as an adverse drug reaction to arsenic trioxide, but the association of arsenic exposure with pruritus has not been investigated. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shimen, China. A Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted to confirm the causal relationship between genetically predicted percentages of monomethylated arsenic (MMA%) and dimethylated arsenic (DMA%) in urine with chronic pruritus in UK Biobank. A case-control study was then conducted to determine the biomarker for pruritus. Arsenite-treated mice were used to confirm the biomarker, and von Frey test was used to induce scratching bouts. Last, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to test the efficacy of naloxone in arsenic-exposed patients with pruritus in Shimen. Results: Hair arsenic (mu g/g) showed a dose-response relationship with the intensity of itch in 1079 participants, with odds ratios (OR) of 1.11 for moderate-to-severe itch (p = 0.012). The Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed the causal relationship, with ORs of 1.043 for MMA% (p = 0.029) and 0.904 for DMA% (p = 0.077) above versus under median. Serum beta-endorphin was identified as a significant biomarker for the intensity of itch (p < 0.001). Consistently, treatment with arsenite upregulated the level of beta-endorphin (p = 0.002) and induced scratching bouts (p < 0.001) in mice. The randomized controlled trial in 126 participants showed that treatment with sublingual naloxone significantly relieved the intensity of itch in arsenic-exposed participants in 2 weeks (beta = -0.98, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Arsenic exposure is associated with pruritus, and beta-endorphin serves as a biomarker of pruritus. Naloxone relieves pruritus in patients with arseniasis.

Automated summary

Pruritus is associated with arsenic exposure, and beta-endorphin serves as a biomarker for pruritus. Naloxone relieves pruritus in patients with arseniasis, as confirmed by a randomized controlled trial.