Cutaneous Changes in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure on Hemodialysis

The study examined skin changes in 100 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) on hemodialysis (HD) and compared them to 100 healthy controls. It found that all CRF patients had at least one skin lesion, with the most common being nail abnormalities (92%), xerosis (87%), and fungal infections (68%). Pruritus was significantly associated with the severity of xerosis. No specific cutaneous findings like acquired perforating dermatosis or calciphylaxis were detected. The study concluded that xerosis and pruritus are common in HD patients and that recognizing these signs early can help reduce suffering and morbidity. Additionally, the study found that 62.7% of patients with pruritus had skin lesions, and there was a significant relationship between uremic pruritus and iron deficiency anemia. Pigmentation changes and nail changes were also common, and oral mucosa changes were observed in 90% of CRF patients. The study emphasized the importance of awareness of cutaneous changes for early diagnosis and treatment to improve patients' quality of life.