TY - JOUR
T1 - Skin surface ph, moisture, and pruritus in haemodialysis patients
AU - Yosipovitch, G.
AU - Tur, E.
AU - Morduchowicz, G.
AU - Boner, G.
PY - 1993
Y1 - 1993
N2 - Pruritus is one of the most common complaints of haemodialysed patients. However, its patho-genesis remains unclear. Dryness of the skin and the effects of pH changes on the nerve endings in the skin have been suggested as related factors. In the present study we measured skin pH using a skin pH meter and skin moisture using a corneometer at four different sites in 41 haemodialysis patients, before and after dialysis, and in 40 healthy controls. Thirty patients (73%) complained of pruritus, six severe constant, 12 moderate and 12 mild. Skin surface pH was higher in patients than in controls in the upper back (5.54 + 0.14 versus 5.22 ± 0.08, P<0.02), forearm (5.5±0.1 versus 5.13 ± 0.1, P<0.01) and forehead (5.35±0.08 versus 5.04±0.07, P<0.004), whereas there was no difference in the axilla. Haemodialysis had no effect on skin pH, and there was no correlation with blood pH, blood bicarbonate and serum electrolytes. There was no correlation between skin surface pH and pruritus. Skin moisture was lower in haemodialysis patients than in controls in the forehead and axilla. There was no correlation with pruritus. Skin surface pH is higher in haemodialysed patients than in healthy controls in most areas of the body, despite the fact that these patients have a decreased blood pH. Thus, the skin pH is not related to systemic acid-base balance. It is possible that the uraemic state affects the ability of the dermal cells to secrete acid, making the skin more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections. Pruritus, however, is not related to this defect in skin acid secretion. Moreover, pruritus is not related to skin moisture. The pathogenesis of pruritus in haemodialysis patients continues to be an enigma.
AB - Pruritus is one of the most common complaints of haemodialysed patients. However, its patho-genesis remains unclear. Dryness of the skin and the effects of pH changes on the nerve endings in the skin have been suggested as related factors. In the present study we measured skin pH using a skin pH meter and skin moisture using a corneometer at four different sites in 41 haemodialysis patients, before and after dialysis, and in 40 healthy controls. Thirty patients (73%) complained of pruritus, six severe constant, 12 moderate and 12 mild. Skin surface pH was higher in patients than in controls in the upper back (5.54 + 0.14 versus 5.22 ± 0.08, P<0.02), forearm (5.5±0.1 versus 5.13 ± 0.1, P<0.01) and forehead (5.35±0.08 versus 5.04±0.07, P<0.004), whereas there was no difference in the axilla. Haemodialysis had no effect on skin pH, and there was no correlation with blood pH, blood bicarbonate and serum electrolytes. There was no correlation between skin surface pH and pruritus. Skin moisture was lower in haemodialysis patients than in controls in the forehead and axilla. There was no correlation with pruritus. Skin surface pH is higher in haemodialysed patients than in healthy controls in most areas of the body, despite the fact that these patients have a decreased blood pH. Thus, the skin pH is not related to systemic acid-base balance. It is possible that the uraemic state affects the ability of the dermal cells to secrete acid, making the skin more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections. Pruritus, however, is not related to this defect in skin acid secretion. Moreover, pruritus is not related to skin moisture. The pathogenesis of pruritus in haemodialysis patients continues to be an enigma.
KW - Skin moisture
KW - Skin surface pH
KW - Uraemic pruritus
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0027452439&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/oxfordjournals.ndt.a092306
DO - 10.1093/oxfordjournals.ndt.a092306
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C2 - 8272228
AN - SCOPUS:0027452439
SN - 0931-0509
VL - 8
SP - 1129
EP - 1132
JO - Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation
JF - Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation
IS - 10
ER -