title: Evaluating the association between alterations in mineral metabolism and pruritus in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Uremic pruritus is the most frequent symptom in long-term hemodialysis patients. Abnormal laboratory parameters have been found with conflicting data.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To correlate the prevalence of pruritus with alterations in mineral metabolism in hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a case-control study. A hundred and five patients on maintenance hemodialysis were evaluated: a group of patients with pruritus and a control group. They answered a research protocol questionnaire; laboratory data were collected from medical records and the patients with pruritus filled out a visual analogue scale (VAS) to measure pruritus level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 51.9 years; 59% of the patients were men and 43% of the patients had pruritus. Xeroderma occurred in 45% of the patients. High levels of calcium were demonstrated in 55% of the patients and 47% had pruritus. 60% of the patients had high phosphorus levels and 43% had pruritus. The Ca/P ratio was normal for all the patients. Parathyroid hormone was high in 95% of the patients, all of them referring pruritus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a statistically significant association between the group of patients with pruritus and xeroderma. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels, Ca/P ratio, PTHi and size of the dialyzer did not show a statistically significant association with pruritus. Therefore, we found an important relationship between xeroderma and pruritus, with no relation with the assessed laboratory parameters.
authors: Health Sciences Federal University of Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. eliswelter@yahoo.com.br
authors: Elisângela de Quevedo
authors: Ede Q
authors: Welter
authors: Renata Hubner
authors: RH
authors: Frainer
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Maldotti
authors: Alexandre
authors: A
authors: Losekann
authors: Magda Blessmann
authors: MB
authors: Weber
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D015995:Prevalence; D011537:Pruritus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D010758:Phosphorus; D014508:Urea; D002118:Calcium