Research Paper Volume 16, Issue 5 pp 4236—4249

Figure 2. The protocol of the clinical trial. The study was divided into three phases: (1) a pre-observation phase of two weeks; (2) a treatment phase of four weeks; (3) a post-observation phase of four weeks. All the participants received pre-observation screenings two weeks before the study with three visits. In the treatment phase, the control group received oral or parental antihistamine or topical cream/ointment for pruritus as routine anti-pruritic treatment according to the principle of each institute. For the intervention group added 6 g/day of AST-120 along with routine anti-pruritic treatment. In the treatment phase, the participants received two visits, in the 2nd and 4th weeks. In the post-treatment phase, the participants received two visits, in the 6th and 8th week.