[Cutaneous divalent ions and uremic pruritus]

Pruritus is a frequent consequence of uremia. In order to investigate the role of the mineral content of the skin 50 patients divided into three groups were studied: group A, 10 uremic patients without pruritus, group B, 10 uremic patients affected with pruritus, and group C, 30 healthy controls. Skin biopsies of group B revealed a high content of calcium and magnesium in all pruritic patients as compared with non pruritic uremics and healthy patients. Therefore uremic pruritus may be due to increased calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in the skin.