Comparison of Uremic Pruritus Between Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis

Overview

Journal Kidney Res Clin Pract

Specialty Nephrology

Date 2016 Jul 2

PMID 27366666

Citations 24

Authors

Ji-Won Min

Su-Hyun Kim

Young Ok Kim

Dong Chan Jin

Ho Chul Song

Euy Jin Choi

Yong-Lim Kim

Yon-Su Kim

Shin-Wook Kang

Nam-Ho Kim

Chul Woo Yang

Yong Kyun Kim

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Uremic pruritus is a common, but unpleasant, complication of end-stage renal disease. The uremic burden may differ between hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. This difference may also change the clinical characteristics of uremic pruritus between the 2 modalities. In this study, we investigated the uremic pruritus between patients on HD and PD.

Methods: A total of 425 HD and 223 PD patients from the Clinical Research Center registry in Korea were included. Patients were assessed for pruritus intensity, scratching activity, pruritus distribution, and frequency of pruritus-related sleep disturbance using the visual analog scale and questionnaire.

Results: The prevalence of uremic pruritus was higher in PD patients than that in HD patients (62.6% vs. 48.3%, P = 0.001). In the multivariable logistic analysis, PD treatment was significantly associated with the prevalence of uremic pruritus (odds ratio, 1.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-2.57, P = 0.004) after adjustment for clinical variables. The visual analog scale score, representing a subjective intensity of itchiness, was significantly higher in PD patients (PD 2.11 ± 2.32 vs. HD 1.65 ± 2.28, P = 0.013) compared with HD patients. The intensity of uremic pruritus was independently related with serum albumin levels (β = -0.143, P = 0.006) in HD patients and total weekly Kt/V (β = -0.176, P = 0.028) in PD patients.

Conclusion: Our data demonstrate the difference in prevalence, intensity, and risk factors of uremic pruritus between HD and PD patients. These findings suggest that careful consideration for uremic pruritus might be needed in end-stage renal disease patients according to the dialysis modality.

Citing Articles

Identification and Management of CKD-Associated Pruritus: Current Insights.

Skrzypczak T, Skrzypczak A, Nockowski P, Szepietowski J Int J Nephrol Renovasc Dis. 2025; 17:339-354.

PMID: 39748827 PMC: 11693948. DOI: 10.2147/IJNRD.S499798.

Prevalence and Outcomes of Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus: International Results from Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study.

Tennankore K, McCullough K, Bieber B, Cho Y, Johnson D, Kanjanabuch T Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2024; 19(12):1622-1634.

PMID: 39652652 PMC: 11637705. DOI: 10.2215/CJN.0000000000000537.

Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus: what is known and its application in children.

Shah S, Onugha E, Swartz S Pediatr Nephrol. 2023; 39(1):25-35.

PMID: 37171581 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-023-05998-8.

Pathogenesis and Treatment of Pruritus Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease and Cholestasis.

Kim J, Shim W, Kwak I, Lee D, Park J, Lee S Int J Mol Sci. 2023; 24(2).

PMID: 36675074 PMC: 9864517. DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021559.

Effect of residual kidney function and dialysis adequacy on chronic pruritus in dialysis patients.

Lengton R, van der Willik E, de Rooij E, Meuleman Y, le Cessie S, Michels W Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2022; 38(6):1508-1518.

PMID: 36549655 PMC: 10229298. DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfac341.

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