March 2025
Abstract
Background
Pruritus is a symptom frequently associated with systemic diseases, particularly hematological disorders.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of pruritus with morbidity in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN).
Methods
A systematic review of the literature was performed using two databases (Pubmed and Embase). Studies were included if they were published between January 2000 and August 2022 and addressed an association between pruritus and morbidity or survival in MPN patients.
Results
Ten articles were selected for the systematic review, 6 including patients with polycythemia vera (PV), 1 with essential thrombocythemia (ET), 2 with primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and 1 including both ET and PV. While 2 studies found no significant association between pruritus and mortality, 2 studies found a significant association between pruritus and improved survival. Three studies reported a statistically significant association between pruritus and an increase in thromboembolic events, while one study did not. One study showed an association between the presence of pruritus and sleep disturbance in PV. One study demonstrated an association between pruritus and the presence of depressive symptoms in PV. Two studies found a significant association between disease progression and the presence of pruritus, while three studies did not.
Conclusions
While pruritus appears to influence sleep quality and the onset of depressive symptoms, the effect of pruritus on mortality is more controversial, but the presence of pruritus might be associated with better survival.