Correlation between Uremic Pruritus and Anemia and Iron Profile in Hemodialysis Patients

Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is a common symptom in patients with end-stage renal disease. So far, no clear explanation has been found about the pathogenesis of CKD-aP. Therefore, the present study aimed at investigating the relationship between pruritus in hemodialysis patients and serum iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity, and transferrin saturation.

In this cross-sectional descriptive correlational study, 112 patients in hemodialysis clinics at Ghaemshahr Razi Hospital and Sari Shahrvand Clinic were investigated. The presence of pruritus and its severity were measured by a questionnaire and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), respectively. Demographic information including age, gender, underlying diseases, dialysis information, and laboratory data, including urea, creatinine, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, hemoglobin, albumin, serum iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity, and transferrin saturation were recorded.

Out of 112 patients, 38 (33.9%) had CKD-aP and 74 patients (66.1%) did not report pruritus during the last six months. Findings showed no significant relationships between pruritus and its severity and demographic variables, information related to dialysis, and laboratory results (P> 0.05).

We found no significant relationship between the presence and intensity of pruritus and demographic and paraclinical variables in hemodialysis patients, through which the hypothesis of the role of iron deficiency and anemia in causing pruritus in hemodialysis patients was rejected.