Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the correlation between inflammation status and uremic pruritus in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods Thirty-nine MHD patients and twelve healthy controls were recruited to the study. We inquired of MHD patients about the severity of their pruritus by visual analog scale (VAS). Blood samples were taken before and after hemodialysis during the inquiry day. Inflammatory factors including interleukin (IL) -2, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were measured by Cytometric Bead Array. Results Pre- and after-dialysis levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF and pre-dialysis level of hsCRP were significantly higher in MHD patients than in healthy controls, and these levels had no significant correlation with age or sex. Spearman rank correlation analysis and linear regression analysis showed that pre-dialysis IL-2 level was positively correlated with VAS score (β=0.586, t=4.399, F=19.354, P＜0.01). Based on VAS score, MHD patients could be divided into 3 groups, no pruritus group (VAS=0.38%), mild to moderate pruritus group (VAS=1～5.41%), and severe pruritus group (VAS＞5.21%). Pre- and after-dialysis IL-2 levels were significantly higher in severe pruritus group than in no pruritus group. Conclusion A higher prevalence of uremic pruritus was found in MHD patients. Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of uremic pruritus. IL-2 closely relates to uremic pruritus in MHD patients.

Key words: Hemodialysis, Uremic pruritus, IL-2