Pruritus in uraemic patients is a therapeutic challenge for the dermat
ologist, The usual antipruritic agents are of no avail. In this study,
we evaluated the beneficial effect of sunburn spectrum ultraviolet B
irradiation in the treatment of pruritus in patients with chronic rena
l failure on haemodialysis. Of 20 patients treated twice weekly for 4
weeks, 17 responded to therapy with complete relief of pruritus in a s
hort time. In two patients, the response was delayed and needed four m
ore treatment sessions. Thus, 85% of patients showed marked improvemen
t. A majority of them did not show any relapse during 4 months of foll
ow-up. The mechanisms of action of this modality of treatment remain u
nclear.