An epidemiology study of patients with uremic pruritus

BACKGROUND: Pruritus is a common problem in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and haemodialysis patients. There are few studies on the clinical characteristics of uremic itch, the cause of which is still unknown. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to define the prevalence and clinical characteristics of pruritus in CAPD and haemodialysis patients. METHODS: A questionnaire was used to evaluate pruritus in 52 CAPD and 289 haemodialysis patients in two dialysis units. The relationship of various factors and medical parameters to itch was examined. RESULTS: Of the 341 patients, 177 (51.9%) had pruritus at the time of examination, 97 (28.4%) had pruritus in the past. Pruritus was present in 145 (50.2%) of the haemodialysis patients and 32 (61.5%) of the CAPD patients. Men, patients with liver disease, and patients with pruritus before starting dialysis treatment were more likely to have uremic pruritus. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed us that uremic pruritus was observed more in men than women. The high prevalence of uremic pruritus in our study does not support the decrease of pruritus due to an improvement in the management of dialysis patients.