II. Causes: Dermatologic Conditions

III. Causes: Systemic

  1. Autoimmune Causes
    1. Dermatitis Herpetiformis
    2. Dermatomyostitis
    3. Linear Immunoglobulin A Disease
    4. Sjogren Syndrome
    5. Scleroderma
  2. Hematologic Causes
    1. Hemochromatosis
    2. Iron Deficiency Anemia
    3. Mastocytosis
    4. Monoclonal Gammopathy (Plasma Cell Disorder)
    5. Polycythemia Rubra Vera (Pruritus in 30-50% of cases)
      1. Provoked by hot shower or bath
      2. Pricking type itch may persist for hours
  3. Malignancy
    1. Leukemia
    2. Multiple Myeloma
    3. Hodgkin's Lymphoma
    4. Malignant Carcinoid
    5. Paraneoplastic Syndrome (solid malignancy)
  4. Hepatobiliary Disease
    1. Biliary Cirrhosis
    2. Cholestasis (bile salt protease release in skin)
      1. See Cholestasis associated Pruritus
    3. Hepatitis (esp. Hepatitis C)
    4. Sclerosing Cholangitis
    5. Biliary duct obstruction
  5. Endocrine Conditions
    1. Carcinoid Syndrome
    2. Hyperthyroidism (4-11% long-standing Grave's Disease)
    3. Hyperparathyroidism
    4. Diabetic Neuropathy
  6. Neurologic Causes
    1. Intracranial Mass
    2. Multiple Sclerosis
    3. Notalgia Paresthetica
    4. Peripheral Neuropathy
  7. Systemic infection
    1. HIV Infection (see Pruritus in HIV)
    2. Parvovirus B19
    3. Parasitic Infections
      1. Filariasis
      2. Schistosomiasis
      3. Onchocerciasis (river blindness)
      4. Ascariasis
      5. Hookworm
      6. Trichinosis
  8. Miscellaneous Causes
    1. See Pruritus in Pregnancy
    2. See Exposures below (includes medications, pregnancy)
    3. Severe Chronic Renal Failure (Uremic Pruritus)
    4. Neurodermatitis or Delusions of Parasitosis
    5. Rapid weight loss (e.g. Anorexia Nervosa)
    6. Chronic Urticaria

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