Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management (Nov 2021)
Chronic Intractable Pruritus in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: Prevalence, Impact, and Management Challenges — A Narrative Review
Abstract
Karolina Świerczyńska, Rafał Białynicki-Birula, Jacek C Szepietowski Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, PolandCorrespondence: Jacek C SzepietowskiDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, 1 Chalubinskiego Street, Wroclaw, 50-368, PolandTel +48 601 534 853Fax +48 71 327 09 42Email [email protected]: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is recognized as a leading public health problem and causes numerous health complications. One of the most common and burdensome dermatological symptoms affecting patients undergoing dialysis is CKD-associated pruritus (CKD-aP). This condition not only has a negative impact on sleep, mood, daily activities, and quality of life but also increases the mortality risk of hemodialyzed patients. Despite that, this condition is greatly underestimated in clinical practice. Due to the complex and still not fully understood etiopathogenesis of CKD-aP, the choice of an effective therapy remains a challenge for clinicians. Most common therapeutic algorithms use topical treatment, phototherapy, and various systemic approaches. This review aimed to summarize most recent theories about the pathogenesis, clinical features, and treatment of CKD-aP.Keywords: chronic kidney disease, chronic kidney disease–associated pruritus, treatment
