A randomised trial of simple excision of non-specific hypertrophied anal papillae versus expectant management in patients with chronic pruritus ani.

Forty-one patients with non-specific hypertrophied anal papillae and chronic idiopathic pruritus ani were randomly assigned to simple excision of the anal papillae (n = 21) or expectant management (n = 20). The patients were examined blindly 1 and 4 weeks after treatment and 1 year later. None of the patients were lost to follow-up. Of 21 patients treated with simple excision, 14 (67%) were symptom-free at 1 year after treatment compared to 11 out of 20 patients (55%) maintained on expectant management (P greater than 0.05). It is concluded that simple excision of non-specific hypertrophied anal papillae is without effect on chronic idiopathic pruritus ani.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes