Pruritus of Undetermined Origin

Abstract

Pruritus is the most common symptom of dermatologic diseases. But sometimes the patients may present with pruritus without any diagnostic skin lesions. Clinicians may assume that this condition is pruritus of undetermined origin (puo). Actually, puo may be the symtom of underlying systemic diseases, such as chronic renal failure, primary biliary cirrhosis, thyrotoxicosis etc. So we have to try to find out these underlying diseases by a careful history, a review of systems, a careful physical examination and some laboratory work up. This article reviews the pathophisiology of pruritus and its systemic causes. An approach to the work up of a patient with pruritus and the guideline of treatments are suggested.