UREMIC PRURITUS IS NOT RELATED TO PLASMA HISTAMINE CONCENTRATIONS

Pruritus is a common symptom in uraemic patients and its aetiology is poorly understood, although several factors have been implicated, incl uding high histamine plasma levels. The aim of the study was to evalua te plasma levels of histamine in patients on maintenance haemodialysis in relation to the presence of itching (35 pruritic patients = group A; 50 non-pruritic patients = group B). Furthermore, we compared the v alues obtained with those of a healthy control group (64 subjects). We observed increased plasma histamine levels in uraemic patients compar ed with healthy controls. However, no relationship was found between p lasma histamine values and itching because groups A and B showed overl apping values and there was no correlation between the intensity of pr uritus and plasma histamine concentrations in group A patients. In con clusion, we suggest that there is no evidence for plasma histamine pla ying a significant part in uraemic pruritus.