Prevalence and severity of cutaneous manifestations in patients of CRF on hemodialysis in relation to duration of replacement therapy

The study conducted at Fatima Memorial Hospital examined 100 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD) to assess the prevalence and severity of cutaneous manifestations in relation to the duration of HD. Over eight months, it was found that 82% of patients experienced xerosis, 69% had pruritus, 66% had pigmentary changes, and 30% had generalized hair loss, among other skin issues. Severe cases included 46% with xerosis and 12% with hair loss. The study concluded that cutaneous manifestations were common among HD patients and tended to worsen with longer HD duration. It emphasized the importance of collaboration between dermatologists and nephrologists to improve patient care.