Question

What stage of kidney disease causes itching?

Answer 1

Pruritus:

1. Pruritus is distressing, itchy skin, which creates a prickly feeling on or under your skin and an urge to scratch it.
2. It is also called uremic pruritus or chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP).
3. Sometimes, the itchy patches of skin may be red or a different color than your usual skin tone.
4. Colour of your skin will not change .
5. Symptoms are mainly shown on the skin on your back, arms, head, or belly (abdomen).

Stages 4 and 5 have symptoms of itching.

Causes of pruritus:

1. Dialysis was not properly done
2. Inflammation (swelling) occurs in your body for long time..
3. Skin becomes dry due to loss of sweat glands which is a common problem in people on dialysis
4. Blood contains high levels of phosphorus (hyperphosphatemia)
5. Parathyroid hormone concentration increases in blood (hyperparathyroidism).
6. Magnesium and aluminum level increases in blood
7. Uremic pruritus or itching is mostly seen in patients with end-stage renal disease.
8. Approximately 40% of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face pruritus in stage four or five of end-stage renal disease.
9. End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is a medical condition in which a person's kidneys cease functioning on a permanent basis leading to the need for a regular course of long-term dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life.