Uremic Pruritus in Patients with End Stage Renal Disease, in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Pruritus is a disabling symptom in patients with chronic renal failure. There are no reports of this symptom in patients with renal failure in our environment. We looked at the prevalence and pattern of pruritus in patients with end stage renal disease and underlying associated cutaneous features in them. A questionnaire assessing the presence, pattern, severity and sites affected with pruritus were administered to the patients with end stage renal disease.  Their skin was examined for associated clinical features. One hundred and twenty patients with end stage renal disease were recruited into the study. Thirty-two (26.7%) of the patients had pruritus out of which 22 were males.  Twenty-one (65.6%) of the patients were receiving haemodialysis while the others were on conservative management. The age range of the patients was 22-78 years with a mean of 42.96±15.83 years. Pruritus was generalised in 75% of the patients. It was localised to the face in 6%, upper limbs 3%, lower limbs 9%, scalp 3% and the trunk in 3% of the patients. Xerosis was found in 80% of the patients with generalized pruritus. We concluded that pruritus is a symptom of end stage renal disease in this environment and occurs more in patients receiving haemodialysis. Most of our patients had mild to moderate pruritus.  Xerosis was an accompanying feature of generalised pruritus in these patients