Pruritus cum materia L29.8

Outdated term for a pruritus as a concomitant symptom of a dermatological or internal basic disease.

Pruritus in different constellations (data situation very different, therefore no reliable prevalence data can be given)

• Itching with scratching effects (formation of characteristic scratch marks and hemorrhagic crusted streak-like efflorescences):
  • eczema, especially atopic eczema
  • Prurigo diseases
  • Desiccation eczema
  • Psoriasis vulgaris
  • Mycoses
  • Dermatitis herpetiformis (Duhring's disease)
  • Mastocytoses
  • Epizoonoses(scabies; pediculosis)
• Pruritus with rubbing (as a reflex - in case of permanent itching characteristic mirror-like nail plates = shiny nails).
  • Lichen planus
  • Urticaria
  • Pemphigoid diseases
  • HES-induced pruritus
  • Itching (and pain) after zoster diseases
• Pruritus in internal diseases:
  • Diabetes mellitus(pruritus diabeticorum)
  • Liver diseases(hepatic pruritus)
  • Kidney diseases(renal pruritus)
  • Pruritus in hyperuricemia
  • Pruritus in hyperthyroidism
  • Pruritus in polycythemia vera (frequent)
  • Iron deficiency (frequent, no prevalence known)
  • Pruritus after HAES infusions
  • Pruritus in systemic lymphomas and lymphomas of the skin (e.g., malignant lymphogranulomatosis, cutaneous T-cell lymphomas)
  • Pruritus in malignancies ( rarely: pruritus in neoplasms, pruritus leucaemicus)
  • Pruritus in neurological diseases(brachioradial pruritus, notalgia paresthetica, small fiber neuropathy)
  • Pruritus in anorexia
  • Pruritus in psychiatric disorders (somatoform and dissociative disorders,schizophrenic disorders)
• Itching as an adverse drug reaction after taking medication:
  • ACE inhibitors
  • Beta-blockers
  • Morphine
  • Anti-inflammatories
  • Antibiotics
  • Cytostatics
  • Retinoids
  • Chloroquine.

The terms "pruritus cum materia" and "pruritus sine materia" are no longer common today and should not be used.

1. Kopera D et al (1991) Pruritus sine materia as initial symptom in hepatocellular carcinoma. Act Dermatol 17: 100-101
2. Schirrmacher S et al (2003) Pathogenesis and treatment of pruritus in patients with cholestasis. Z Gastroenterol 41: 259-262
3. Dispute M et al (2002) Pruritus sine marteria. Pathophysiology, diagnostic assessment and therapy. dermatologist 53: 830-849