Cutaneous Mast Cell Quantity in Pruritic and Nonpruritic Hemodialysis Patients

: Pruritus remains a significant complication of end‐stage renal disease. Its cause in hemodialysis patients is not known. It has been postulated that increased numbers of mast cells occur in these patients and may account for the presence of pruritus. Our objective was to determine if there is a difference in the number of cutaneosus mast cells between pruritic and nonpruritic patients. A 3‐mm punch biopsy specimen was obtained from pruritic (n...