Treatment of chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus: status quo and future prospect

Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus is a common complication in hemodialysis patients, with a high incidence and serious impact on the quality of life of patients, and patients may have depressive states, decreased sleep quality, and increased mortality. Because the pathogenesis of this complication is unknown, there is no clear treatment. Current clinical and related studies can provide a variety of remission methods, including improving the quality of dialysis and systemic drug therapy (calcium channel modulators, opioids, sodium thiosulfate, antihistamines, antidepressants), topical drug therapy, acupuncture or acupressure, treatments of traditional Chinese medicine, etc. This article reviewed the treatment status and progress of this complication in order to provide reference for clinicians to make treatment plans.