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aquagenic pruritus
Etiology:
- polycythemia vera
Epidemiology:
- up to 68% of patients with polycythemia vera
Pathology:
- may involve mast cell degranulation
Clinical manifestations:
- may precede diagnosis of polycythemia vera by several years
- intense itching, stinging, tingling or burning of the skin after contact with water
- pruritus starts < 10 minutes after contact with water
- in most cases, warm water causes worse symptoms than cold water
- no visible changes in skin
- most common affects chest, back, medial arms, ventral legs
General
pruritus (itching)
References
- Geriatric Review Syllabus, 9th edition (GRS9)
Medinal-Walpole A, Pacala JT, Porter JF (eds)
American Geriatrics Society, 2016
- Siegel FP, Tauscher J, Petrides PE.
Aquagenic pruritus in polycythemia vera: characteristics and
influence on quality of life in 441 patients.
Am J Hematol. 2013 Aug;88(8):665-9.
PMID: 23657863 Free Article