Hinyokika kiyo. Acta urologica Japonica
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Persistent pruritus is one of the most common symptoms in hemodialysis patients. The cause of pruritus is not known, and conventional treatment for pruritus is rarely helpful. Some authors thought that release of histamine from increased mast cells in uremic patients was the cause of pruritus. ⋯ Oral zinc sulfate, 445 mg daily for two months, relieved pruritus subjectively in 53% of the patients. After treatment, serum histamine levels decreased significantly, as well as serum zinc levels increased significantly. These findings suggest that zinc deficiency participates in increased histamine levels in dialysis patients, and subsequently in the development of uremic pruritus.