The signs and symptoms of uremic pruritus can vary. The intensity ranges from mildly uncomfortable to highly upsetting and causing agitation.[4] The distribution is more prevalent on the back, face, and shunt arm and is typically symmetric and generalized, though it can also be localized.[5] Dryness, heat, cold, stress, and showering all exacerbate pruritus. Patients with this condition frequently have skin devoid of noticeable lesions. But in addition to xerosis, skin lesions like excoriation, crusts, impetigo, and prurigo nodularis may also develop as a result of repeated scratching.[4]
Causes
There are several potential causes of uremic pruritus, including immune dysregulation, uremic toxins, neuropathy, and opioid imbalance.[4]
The etiology of uremic pruritus may involve the immune system as well. Research comparing hemodialysis patients with and without uremic pruritus revealed that those with the condition had noticeably higher levels of T helper 1 cells[10] as well as serum interleukin(IL)-6, IL-2,[11] and IL-31.[12][13]
In uremic pruritus, both peripheral and central neuropathy are thought to be involved.[4]
Diagnosis
Uremic pruritus is defined as itching that is directly caused by chronic kidney disease, with no other explainable conditions.[14] Uremic pruritus cannot be diagnosed with laboratory tests or established criteria because of its variability and lack of specific skin lesions. Comprehensive consideration of the diagnosis is necessary, encompassing neuropathic, psychogenic, renal, dermatologic, endocrine, hepatobiliary, hematologic, rheumatologic, oncologic, and endocrine causes.[4]
Xerosis is a contributing factor to pruritus and is present in 50–85% of patients with uremic pruritus.[16] Many studies have shown that emollients such as glycerol and paraffin,[17] physiological lipids,[18] 10% urea and dexpanthenol,[19] and baby oil[20] can reduce xerosis and pruritus in patients with uremic pruritus. For patients with uremic pruritus, especially in cases of milder severity, emollient is recommended as the initial line of treatment.[14]
^STÅHLE-BÅCKDAHL, M.; HÄGERMARK, Ö.; LINS, L.-E.; TÖRRING, O.; HILLIGES, M.; JOHANSSON, O. (1989). "Experimental and immunohistochemical studies on the possible role of parathyroid hormone in uraemic pruritus". Journal of Internal Medicine. 225 (6). Wiley: 411–415. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2796.1989.tb00104.x. ISSN0954-6820. PMID2746157. S2CID44406280.
^ abBlachley, Jon D.; Blankenship, D. Michael; Menter, Alan; Parker, Tom F.; Knochel, James P. (1985). "Uremic Pruritus: Skin Divalent Ion Content and Response to Ultraviolet Phototherapy". American Journal of Kidney Diseases. 5 (5). Elsevier BV: 237–241. doi:10.1016/s0272-6386(85)80115-3. ISSN0272-6386. PMID4003393.
^Dugas-Breit, Susanne; Schöpf, Pia; Dugas, Martin; Schiffl, Helmut; Ruëff, Franziska; Przybilla, Bernhard (April 14, 2005). "Baseline serum levels of mast cell tryptase are raised in hemodialysis patients and associated with severity of pruritus". JDDG: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft. 3 (5). Wiley: 343–347. doi:10.1111/j.1610-0387.2005.05706.x. ISSN1610-0379. PMID16372800. S2CID22968227.
^Kimmel, Martin; Alscher, Dominik Mark; Dunst, Robert; Braun, Niko; Machleidt, Christoph; Kiefer, Thomas; Stülten, Christina; van der Kuip, Heiko; Pauli-Magnus, Christiane; Raub, Ulrich; Kuhlmann, Ulrich; Mettang, Thomas (October 25, 2005). "The role of micro-inflammation in the pathogenesis of uraemic pruritus in haemodialysis patients". Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. 21 (3). Oxford University Press (OUP): 749–755. doi:10.1093/ndt/gfi204. ISSN1460-2385. PMID16249205.
^Fallahzadeh, M. K.; Roozbeh, J.; Geramizadeh, B.; Namazi, M. R. (March 3, 2011). "Interleukin-2 serum levels are elevated in patients with uremic pruritus: a novel finding with practical implications". Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. 26 (10). Oxford University Press (OUP): 3338–3344. doi:10.1093/ndt/gfr053. ISSN0931-0509. PMID21372257.
^Szepietowski, Jacek C; Szepietowski, Tomasz; Reich, Adam (2005). "Efficacy and tolerance of the cream containing structured physiological lipids with endocannabinoids in the treatment of uremic pruritus: a preliminary study". Acta Dermatovenerologica Croatica. 13 (2): 97–103. PMID16324422.