An International Study of Itching in People on Hemodialysis

What is it about?

This is an international study of the debilitating problem of itching in people on haemodialysis. It compares how common it is in each country and how this compares with the estimates of the medical directors of each dialysis unit. It describes how patients report their symptoms to clinicians and Medical Directors' preferred treatment options. Finally it shows the associations between itching and various aspects of treatment and laboratory results.

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Why is it important?

The study shows that itching remains a common problem that seriously affects the lives of many dialysis patients. Doctors greatly underestimate how common it is, partly because patients do not report it to them. As a result many patients do not get effective treatment. In addition, the preferred treatments of most doctors are not based upon evidence. In particular, reducing serum phosphorus and increasing kT/V is a high priority but no association at all was found between these measures and the presence or severity of itching. Gabapentin, an effective treatment for severe itching, was used at any stage by less than half of doctors.

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