Gabapentin - A Solution to Uremic Pruritus?

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult Chinese male and female patients aged \> 18 undergoing CAPD for at least 3 months and able to read and understand Chinese * Patients experiencing moderate to severe pruritis, defined as persistent, treatment-resistant pruritis considerably impairing sleep or daytime activity. Treatment resistance is defined as no or only partial resolvement of pruritis under current anti-pruritis treatment regimens such as anti-pruritis lotions and anti-histamines. * Patients in stable clinical condition in terms of peritoneal dialysis and general health * Patients able to understand and answer the SDS questionnaire * Patients able to express the sensation of itchiness in the terms of the VAS and the SDS score * Patients who are willing to give written informed consent and to participate in and comply with the study protocol Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with a known history of pruritis or dermatologic disease antedating renal failure. * Patients with skin disease other than the usual cutaneous findings of uraemia such as xerosis or ecchymosis. * Patients under current treatment with systemic steroids * Known history of allergy to Gabapentin * Those patients already put on anti-convulsants * Unable to give written informed consent for the study * Pregnancy or female patients of child-bearing age who are unwilling to use contraception * Poor drug compliance * Known HIV positivity * Active neoplastic disease * Those who do not want to participate the study