No abstract

Pruritus is a common symptom in uraemic patients and its aetiology is poorly understood, although several factors have been implicated, including high histamine plasma levels. The aim of the study was to evaluate plasma levels of histamine in patients on maintenance haemodialysis in relation to the presence of itching (35 pruritic patients = group A; 50 non-pruritic patients = group B). Furthermore, we compared the values obtained with those of a healthy control group (64 subjects). We observed increased plasma histamine levels in uraemic patients compared with healthy controls. However, no relationship was found between plasma histamine values and itching because groups A and B showed overlapping values and there was no correlation between the intensity of pruritus and plasma histamine concentrations in group A patients. In conclusion, we suggest that there is no evidence for plasma histamine playing a significant part in uraemic pruritus.

Little is known about factors that may have modulating effects on inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis. Recently it has been proposed that trace elements like selenium may play an active role. Selenium concentrations were determined in plasma and in whole blood from 64 patients with psoriasis. Values were compared with those of matched controls: no significant reduction was observed in contrast with previous reports of reduced selenium levels in psoriasis.

We present a 13-year-old girl who came to our attention for an erythematous bruised lesion which appeared spontaneously without any apparent coagulopathy. The history, histology, and positive "skin-test," carried out by subcutaneously injecting autologous erythrocytes obtained from heparinized blood, confirmed the suspected diagnosis of Diamond-Gardner syndrome. No alterations of blood vessel walls or thromboses were found. Evaluation of hemocoagulative parameters revealed an increased factor VIII level and reduced platelet aggregation after stimulation by adenosine diphosphate (ADP.)