Chronic Itching

  My mother-in-law is 63 yrs old. She has been suffering from chronic itching for the past 15months. She has a history of COPD, depression and arthritis. She is a past aspirin abuser to the point of having a partial gastrectomy. ( I am an RN)
  This itching is waking her up at night. Many Drs have been seen, her meds have been changed to no avail. Could this be an early sign of liver disease?  She had Hepatitis A as a child.
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Dear betsy,
Itching can be a symptom of liver disease, specifically cholestasis (inability to secrete bile or blockage of bile duscts).  In cases with itching, there is usually elevated liver tests.  A simple blood test can exclude liver disease as a cause for the itching.
This information is presented form educational purposes only.  Ask specific questions to your personal physician.
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: itching, pruritus
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