title: Pruritus and renal failure.
abstract: Patients with renal failure, usually end-stage renal disease (ESRD), commonly are afflicted by severe pruritus. The pathogenesis of ESRD pruritus is unknown, but improving the quality of dialysis can reduce the prevalence and severity of ESRD pruritus. Topical and systemic agents as well as broadband ultraviolet phototherapy can be extremely beneficial. Gabapentin has been recently discovered as an effective agent for the patient with ESRD pruritus. Kappa opiate agonists are promising new therapeutic options.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. bergert@derm.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Timothy G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steinhoff
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D010789:Phototherapy; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index