ONO Masafumi    Department   School of Medicine(Tokyo Women's Medical University Adachi Medical Center), School of Medicine    Position
Article types	Original article
Language	English
Peer review	Peer reviewed
Title	Prevalence of pruritus in patients with chronic liver disease: A multicenter study.
Journal	Formal name：Hepatology research : the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology Abbreviation：Hepatol Res ISSN code：13866346/13866346
Domestic / Foregin	Domestic
Volume, Issue, Page	48(3),pp.E252-E262
Author and coauthor	Oeda Satoshi, Takahashi Hirokazu, Yoshida Hisako, Ogawa Yuji, Imajo Kento, Yoneda Masato, Koshiyama Yuichi, Ono Masafumi, Hyogo Hideyuki, Kawaguchi Takumi, Fujii Hideki, Nishino Ken, Sumida Yoshio, Tanaka Saiyu, Kawanaka Miwa, Torimura Takuji, Saibara Toshiji, Kawaguchi Atsushi, Nakajima Atsushi, Eguchi Yuichiro,
Publication date	2018/02
Summary	AIM:Pruritus is a common comorbidity in chronic liver disease. The aim of this study was to clarify the prevalence of pruritus and its characteristics in patients with chronic liver disease.METHODS:A total of 1631 patients with chronic liver disease who attended one of nine joint-research facilities from January to June 2016 were enrolled. We investigated the prevalence of pruritus, itch location, itch duration, daily itch fluctuation, seasonal itch exacerbation, treatment drugs, and therapeutic effects using a medical interview questionnaire.RESULTS:The median age was 66 years and 890 (54.6%) patients were women. The prevalence of pruritus was 40.3% (658/1631), and it differed according to the underlying liver disease. The most frequent body location for pruritus was on the back (63.1%). Pruritus duration was more than 6 months in 252 (38.3%) patients. The severity of pruritus, assessed using a visual analog scale, was higher during the day than at night (median, 4 vs. 3, P < 0.001). Seasonal exacerbation was observed in 296 (45.0%) patients. Although 301 (45.7%) patients were treated with antipruritic agents, 57.8% (174/301) patients reported an insufficient effect. Active hepatitis B virus infection (odds ratio [OR], 2.51; P = 0.043), primary biliary cholangitis (OR, 3.69; P = 0.018), diabetes (OR, 1.57; P = 0.010), and aspartate aminotransferase ≥60 U/L (OR, 2.06; P = 0.011) were independent factors associated with pruritus.CONCLUSION:The prevalence of pruritus varies according to the chronic liver disease etiology. Underlying liver disease, aspartate aminotransferase ≥60 U/L, and comorbid diabetes are factors associated with pruritus in patients with chronic liver disease.
DOI	10.1111/hepr.12978
PMID	28877392