Blood Purification for the Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease-associated Pruritus

Abstract

ABSTRACT Chronic kidney diseases-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is a term that indicates the itching associated to end stage kidney disease without any apparent cause. This symptom leads to decreased quality of life and increased risk of long-term morbidities and mortality. The pathogenesis of uremic pruritus is still unknown, however, different theories have merged: uremic toxins deposition, immune system dysregulation, peripheral neuropathy, and opioid imbalance. While in the last decade, research focused prevalently on pharmaceutical treatment of CKD-aP, extracorporeal therapies have also evolved providing an alternative but efficient treatment option. In this review, we assess the role of different extracorporeal methods on the treatment of CKD-aP.