Pruritus in patients with chronic human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C virus infections

AIM: The prevalence of pruritus was prospectively determined in 310 patients of whom 119 had hepatitis C virus infection, 91 hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus, 51 human immunodeficiency virus infection alone, 31 hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection and 18 were HBsAg carriers. RESULTS: Patients in the first three groups were more likely to complain of itching (22%, 28% and 25%, respectively) than HBsAg carriers (8.2%, p=0.01. Laboratory data were not different between groups, except for the human immunodeficiency virus group, whose alkaline phosphatase levels were highest, and CD4 counts were lowest (median 30 cells/mm3). Patients with hepatitis C, including those with human immunodeficiency virus, had similar hepatitis C virus RNA levels in patients with or without pruritus. There was no difference in hepatic inflammation or fibrosis between those with and those without pruritus. CONCLUSION: 20% of patients with chronic hepatitis C and 8% of hepatitis B patients complain of pruritus. Patients with pruritus have laboratory and histologic parameters comparable to those without.