Relationship of Pruritus with Biochemical and Haematological Parameters in Haemodialysis Patients (A Single Center Study).

Abstract

Background: Pruritus often constitutes a major problem for patients with end stage renal disease. The pathophysiological mechanism of chronic kidney disease -associated pruritus is poorly defined.Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of uremic pruritus in dialysis patients and their correlation with the laboratory and clinical parameters in some Iraqi patients with chronic renal disease.Patients & methods: This analytic, descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed on 103 patients on haemodialysis. Blood urea, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone were determined. Complete blood count was also performed.Results: Of the 103 patients included in the study the, 79 patients (76.7%) had pruritus of whom, 27 (34.1%) had mild pruritus, 30 (38%) had moderate and 22 (27.9%) had severe pruritus. No significant association (p> 0.05) was found between pruritus and each of age and haemodialysis duration. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the urea, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cells, neutrophils, eoisinophils, basophils mean values among patients who had no pruritus, mild, moderate and severe pruritus. A significant positive correlation (p > 0.05) was found between severity of pruritus in pruritic patients and each of age, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.Conclusion: Our study showed that age, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels had a significant positive correlation with the severity of pruritus in pruritic patients.

Relation of serum aluminum level to uremic pruritus in end-stage renal disease patients on maintenance hemodialysis

“…Furthermore, Zhao et al reported an association between elevated hemoglobin levels and increased uremic pruritus severity. In contrast, Ozen et al reported that hemoglobin levels demonstrated no correlation with any change in the severity of pruritus in patients with uremic pruritus on dialysis, with similar results reported by Ghassan et al (18,26,27).…”

“…Ghassan et al and Zhao et al also reported that calcium and phosphate show no association with any change in the severity of pruritus in patients with uremic pruritus on dialysis. Moreover, Ozen et al also reported similar regarding calcium levels (18,26,27).…”

“…Hsu et al concluded that elevated serum albumin levels increase the severity of itching in patients with uremic pruritus on dialysis, while Ozen et al and Ghassan et al reported no correlation between albuminemia and uremic pruritus (16,26,27). Ghassan et al and Zhao et al also reported that calcium and phosphate show no association with any change in the severity of pruritus in patients with uremic pruritus on dialysis.…”