Cutaneous changes in chronic kidney disease patients on maintenance hemodialysis visiting at tertiary care hospital, Karachi

Objective: To determine the frequency of cutaneous changes in patients with chronic kidney disease on maintenance hemodialysis. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted at Department of Nephrology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi from 1st August 2009 to 31st January 2010. A total of 100 patients with chronic kidney disease on maintenance hemodialysis were included. After taking demographic data, cutaneous changes were noted. Mean and standard deviation were computed for quantitative variables (age) and frequency and percentage were computed for categorical variable (sex, cutaneous changes). Results: Mean age was 52.58±13.84 years and out of 100 patients 56% were males. At least one skin change was noted in 91%. Among type of manifestations, xerosis was noted in 96%, generalized xerosis 70%, alopecia 70%, half-and-half nails 36%, scaling 20% and ichthyosis 10%. Pruritus was found in 64%, out of these 93% had mild to moderate intensity and 7% had severe intensity of pruritus. Conclusion: Chronic kidney disease is associated with a complex array of cutaneous manifestations caused either by the disease or by treatment. Xerosis and pruritus were most common among patients with CKD, so early recognition of cutaneous signs can relieve suffering and decrease morbidity.