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Chronic Kidney Disease associated Pruritus (CKD-aP)

• Of over 500,000 patients undergoing dialysis in the US, more than 60% are affected by pruritus^1-3
• Of CKD-aP patients, 20% - 40% report it as moderate to severe^2,4
• CKD-aP is associated with adverse outcomes²

The pathophysiology of CKD-aP is not fully understood, but it is likely multifactorial. In addition to metabolic abnormalities, peripheral neuropathy, and xerosis, research has implicated a dysregulation of the immune system and the endogenous opioid system in the pathophysiology of CKD-aP.^2,3,5,6

View the animation below to take a deeper look.

View the video below to hear from patients who have CKD-aP and the team that cares for them.

References

1. National Kidney Foundation. About chronic kidney disease. https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/about-chronic-kidney-disease. Accessed April 18, 2020.
2. Ramakrishnan K, Bond TC, Claxton A, et al. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of end-stage renal disease patients with self-reported pruritus symptoms. Int J Nephrol Renovasc Dis.2014;7:1-12.
3. Mathur VS, Lindberg J, Germain M, et al. A longitudinal study of uremic pruritus in hemodialysis patients. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2010;5(8):1410-1419.
4. Rayner HC, Larkina M, Wang M, et al. International comparisons of prevalence, awareness, and treatment of pruritus in people on hemodialysis. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017;12(12):2000-2007.
5. Combs SA, Teixeira JP, Germain MJ. Pruritus in kidney disease. Semin Nephrol. 2015;35(4):383-391.
6. Mettang T, Kremer AE. Uremic pruritus. Kidney Int. 2015;87(4):685-691.