Pruritus of unknown origin: a retrospective study.
BACKGROUND
Pruritus of unknown origin is a common complaint, and systemic causes must be considered. However, there is little data on how frequently systemic causes are responsible or whether any patient characteristics make a systemic cause more likely.


OBJECTIVE
We attempted to determine how frequently pruritus of unknown origin had a systemic etiology in an outpatient population seen in a university dermatology department and whether any patient characteristics made a systemic explanation more likely.


METHODS
This is a retrospective study using chart reviews and telephone interviews to collect data.


RESULTS
Of 50 patients, 11 had a systemic cause of pruritus. Pruritus was the initial symptom of systemic disease in 7 of these patients. No patient characteristics were statistically associated with systemic causes of pruritus.


CONCLUSIONS
Pruritus of unknown origin was the initial symptom of a systemic disease in 7 of 50 patients presenting to a dermatology clinic with this complaint. The underlying diseases included hypothyroidism, gastric adenocarcinoma, hepatitis C, HIV, laryngeal carcinoma, graft-versus-host disease, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Zirwas
M J
MJ
Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.
Seraly
M P
MP
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications