Giving long-persistent starch as volume replacement can cause pruritus after cardiac surgery.

We reviewed the prevalence and severity of pruritus in 85 patients after cardiac surgery. EloHAES, a long-lasting hydroxyethylated starch, was given to 59 of these patients. None of the patients who did not receive EloHAES developed pruritus, compared with 22% of those who did (P = 0.007). The timing of onset, duration and severity of the pruritus are similar to those found previously for other hydroxyethylated starches, and the cause of this pruritus is likely to be similar. Hydroxyethyl starch can cause long-term pruritus.