title: Aquagenic pruritus: associated diseases and clinical pruritus characteristics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aquagenic pruritus (AP) can be induced by systemic diseases. The distribution of underlying diseases in a representative patient collective has not been investigated. This retrospective study aimed to determine the frequency and pruritus-specific parameter of systemic diseases in a series of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of 39 patients with AP (24 f, 15 m; mean age: f: 51.3 ± 20.1, m: 57.2 ± 15.0 years) were obtained and statistically evaluated as follows: demographic data, pruritus characteristics, underlying diseases, family history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  30.8 % of patients exhibited polycythemia vera or myelofibrosis (Group 1: G1), in 69.2 % (G2) no underlying disease was found. 25.6 % had lactose intolerance as possible contributing factor. Women were significantly more common in G2 (p < 0.01), with a lower mean age (p < 0.01) and longer duration of AP (18.9 years, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AP occurs frequently with polycythemia vera. Other underlying diseases are rare; in over half of the patients no cause can be detected. In 25 % lactose intolerance is present which possibly acts as co-factor. Demographic parameters (age, gender) allow estimation of the possible underlying disease in AP. Pruritus characteristics are similar in all groups and not helpful in determining the origin of AP.
authors.affiliation: Neurodermatology and Competence Center Pruritus, Clinic and Polyclinic for Dermatology, University Hospital of Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heitkemper
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Ngoc Quan
authors.initials: NQ
authors.lastname: Phan
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ständer
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007787:Lactose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011537:Pruritus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water