Water-induced pruritus in haematologically controlled polycythaemia vera: response to phototherapy.
BACKGROUND
Water-induced pruritus is characterized by the development of intense and widespread itching after contact with water at any temperature and without observable skin lesions. Around 40-52% of patients with polycythaemia vera (PV) have water-induced pruritus, and more than 20% of the patients continue with symptoms despite an adequate control of the underlying disease. The aetiology is unknown and treatment is often unsuccessful. We report a patient with a haematologically controlled polycythaemia vera and water-induced pruritus that responded to phototherapy.


METHODS
An 83-year-old woman with haematologically controlled PV referred with intense water-induced pruritus without cutaneous lesions. Topical emollients and oral antihistamines were unsatisfactory and so phototherapy treatment (90% UVA/10% UVB) three times a week was commenced.


RESULTS
Improvement was visible after 1 month and at the end of 3 months the pruritus had disappeared and treatment was stopped.


CONCLUSIONS
It is considered that the successful treatment in this patient is due to the UVB radiation.
Hernández-Núñez
A
A
Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Madrid, Spain. agarciad@meditex.es
Daudén
E
E
Córdoba
S
S
Aragüés
M
M
García-Díez
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy; D014867:Water / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014867:Water