[Hydroxyethylstarch-induced pruritus: an understimated side effect of its application also in ENT diseases].

Chronic pruritus may be caused by drugs such as colloid infusions with hydroxyethylstarch (HES). HES-induced pruritus can be diagnosed by typical patient's history, clinical characteristics, confirmed application of HES and its cutaneous tissue storage obtained by electron microscopy. Pruritus occurs on the whole body and significantly impairs patient's quality of life. It persists daily in high and constant intensity. After several to 15 months in average pruritus decreases gradually and finally ceases when the HES deposits are degraded. Topical and systemic treatments are only of symptomatic value. HES-induced pruritus is severe, protracted and mostly therapy-refractory. Limiting the dose and the duration of HES application may help reducing this intractable side effect. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart * New York.