A questionnaire for the assessment of pruritus: Validation in uremic patients

A questionnaire was constructed for the evaluation and measurement of pruri tus. The questionnaire, based on the short form of the McGill Pain Question naire, mas tested in 145 patients suffering from uremic pruritus and curren tly undergoing hemodialysis; treatment in 3 centers. The newly developed qu estionnaire proved to be reliable and provided valid data on the sensory, a ffective and overall intensity of uremic pruritus, The data suggest that ur emic pruritus tends to be prolonged, frequently intense, and a major source of distress to the patient. Dialysis mas nor found to influence the prurit us. The questionnaire may also be useful in pruritus secondary to other cau ses.