Clinical Characteristics of Uremic Pruritus in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

Bae, Eun Hui; Kang, Woo Heon; Park, Joung Woo; Bae, Woo Kyoun; Lee, Kyun Sang; Ma, Seong Kwon; Kim, Nam Ho; Choi, Ki Chul; Kim, Soo Wan

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pruritus is a common, unpleasant symptom in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD), however its pathogenesis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of pruritus in chronic renal failure patients on hemodialysis and to correlate its presence with several clinical and laboratory parameters.
METHODS
One hundred seventy patients on maintenance HD were enrolled, Some relevant clinical and laboratory parameters (age, sex, duration of dialysis, type of membrane, underlying renal disease, medications, erythropoietin (EPO) and laboratory findings including hematocrit, creatinine, urea, calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), erythrocyte sediment rate (ESR), albumin, beta2-microglobulin (beta2MG) and lipid profile as well as parameters of adequate dialysis (Kt/Vurea, URR) were evaluated.
RESULTS
Total 170 patients (80 males) were enrolled and pruritus was found in 60 patients (Group I, M:F=29:31). One hundred ten patients did not complain pruritus (Group II, M:F=51:59). Mean age was significantly higher in Group I (59.6+/-14.8 vs. 54.3+/-13.6 years, p<0.05). There was no difference in sex, type of membrane, primary renal disease, serum beta2MG, ESR, EPO dose, duration of dialysis and serum albumin level. The mean value of Kt/V was higher in Group II (1.39+/- 0.36 vs. 1.51+/-0.27, p<0.035).
CONCLUSION
Pruritus was more common in older patients and low Kt/V, but other clinical characteristics and laboratory findings were not correlated with uremic pruritus.