Treatment Effects of Different Incident Dialysis Modalities on Pruritus in Elderly Uremic Patients

SummaryBackgroundTo observe the treatment effects of different dialysis modalities on pruritus in elderly uremic patients.MethodsAfter screening, 67 elderly dialysis patients were selected, including 25 hemodialysis (HD) patients, 20 HD combined with hemodiafiltration (HD + HDF) patients, and 22 peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels were measured before the initial dialysis, and 8 and 12 weeks after the dialysis. During these periods, cutaneous pruritus scores were documented and the remission rate of itching was calculated.ResultsThere were significant differences in the plasma β2-MG and iPTH levels at 8 and 12 weeks after the initial dialysis in the HDF and PD groups (all p < 0.05). There were also significant differences in cutaneous pruritus scores (all p < 0.01) in the HDF and PD groups, but the scores showed no significant difference in the HD group (all p > 0.05). After 12 weeks of treatment, the pruritus remission rates in the PD, HDF, and HD groups were 68.18%, 60.00%, and 24.00%, respectively.ConclusionPD and HDF can clear β2-MG and iPTH and provide relief from cutaneous pruritus efficiently in elderly uremic patients.