Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Itching and broken blood vessels

One of the symptoms that led to my Hep C diagnosis was the incredible itching that I had.  I would scratch until the area would look like a technicolor bruise on my thigh.  I have not had that happen since starting treatment but today it is happening again.  No rash.  Just the intense itching and again the scratching til it looks like a big ol' raspberry.  Does this mean that something has gone wrong with treatment?  Is something happening to my liver?
5 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Hmmm, I only had the intense itching on the outside of my upper arms, on and off thru-out the 20 yrs I had the Hep C (but especially when I was pregnant)
   My Bilirubin levels were a bit high, right before I went into Tx,and I had the itching at that time.
   I did keep the slightly elevated Bilirubin level, untli week 12 of Tx.
I know it's really hard, but it always helped me, to not scratch it at all, when I felt that twinge. Once I rubbed it once, it would itch, and when I itched it, it would itch intensely, until I ended up making myself bleed..and it would still itch.
   So, try distraction, or ice-water, instead of itching it.  I also found eatin spicey foods, like garlic and jalepeno, made it itch more. And being in the sun could trigger that itch.
   About 2 months into my Tx i did get an itchy rash,  I think the sun triggered it. It was on my torso, and then it rose up to my scalp. It felt like a sytemic rash, so i treated that with prescription ich pills, called Hydroxizine.
You should give those little pills a try, they are also clled "Atarax". I took them regularly for a few days, and got rid of all itching.
   These type on symptoms were the worst, when I was struggling to control my hemolytic anemia.
Helpful - 0
446474 tn?1446347682
Does this mean that something has gone wrong with treatment?  Is something happening to my liver?

I would doubt that anything is "wrong". Manifestations of pruritus seem to come and go for no known reason. Whether is is associated with HCV and treatment or cirrhosis.

I am not sure how disruptive it is for you, (some cirrhotics scratch with knifes (!) and permanently scar themselves) but there are a number of things you can do to treat the itching. Make sure if you plan on taking any drugs for pruritus, that you notify your treating doctor before starting and any new drug.
NOTE: A number of these drugs are to various degrees toxic to the liver!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HCSP FACT SHEET

"Pruritus is one of the most common symptoms reported by people with
hepatitis C (20%), but is more commonly found in people with advanced
liver disease and cirrhosis.  Pruritus is itching that may be localized to a
specific part of the body such as hands and feet, but it can also be a generalized itching all over the body.  Some people even report that it feels like their internal organs itch.  Pruritus can be related to high bilirubin levels, autoimmune disease or dry skin, and can be a side effect of treatment. Use of moisturizing lotions, oatmeal baths or lotions, antihistamines, and cortisone creams and opiate drugs can help.

Recent studies are showing that dermatologic manifestations, and pruritus in particular, may be the only sign of chronic HCV; therefore it is important that health care professionals be aware of extrahepatic dermatologic manifestations, of which pruritus is an example.*  Experts believe pruritus in people with liver disease is due to the accumulation of toxins (such as bilirubin) that are not effectively processed or filtered by the damaged liver.  One function of the liver is the production of bile, which helps digest fats.  Cholestasis, or blockage of the flow of bile through the liver, can result in a build-up of bile acids and bilirubin in the blood.  High bilirubin levels cause jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), and pruritus is common in people with jaundice.  Certain extrahepatic (outside the liver) conditions associated with HCV, such as autoimmune conditions, may also lead to itching.  More commonly, itching due to dry skin can be a side effect of treatment with interferon/ribavirin; this is not the same as pruritus due to advanced liver damage. Pruritus symptoms can range from annoying mild itching to severe itching that interferes with daily life.  Often the itching is worse at night, and may prevent sleep. Simple scratching typically does not relieve pruritus.  As a result, some people risk skin infection and injury by scratching themselves with sharp objects."

Treament

"Certain drugs can help reduce itching, particularly classical analgesics for neuropathic pain (gabapentin, antidepressants)  which also exhibit antipruritic efficacy upon clinical use.  Some people find that antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or hydroxyzine (Atarax), help relieve symptoms and allow better sleep.

For pruritus due to cholestasis, cholestyramine  (Questran) and colestipol (Colestid) may be effective.  These drugs are bile acid binders that attach to bile acids in the blood and help eliminate them from the  body.  They can also interfere with the absorption of other medications, so other drugs should be taken at least two hours before or after bile acid binders.  

Some studies have shown that opiate antagonists such as naloxone (Narcan), naltrexone (Revia), and nalmefene (Revex)–which are used to block the effects of opiate drugs–can also reduce severe itching.  

Phenobarbital (Luminal), ondansetron (Zofran), and ursodiol (Actigall) may also be used, and several other medications are under study.  
Rifampin, a hepatic enzyme inducer, is effective for the pruritus of cholestasis, but caution should be used in patients with preexisting liver disease because of possible hepatotoxicity.  Butorphanol has also been
shown to be effective in suppressing cholestatic pruritus.  Zoloft (Sertraline), an antidepressant often prescribed to people with hepatitis C, is also effective in reducing the itching caused by cholestatis."

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/pruritus.pdf

Cheers!
Hector
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Mey ???    maybe that was supposed to be  "Hey"  :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Mey momof

Itching and liver disease has never been thoroughly understood.
An increase in bilirubin levels may sometimes have this effect and very often bili levels will rise as a result of treatment more specifically because of possible "anemia..
I would not worry about this whatsoever .The only way to ascertain what is happening as far as viral load goes is your PCR's and as far as what is actually happening functionally with your liver ,these changes as you know take place over many years and most often decades  and rarely abruptly in the confines of a few weeks of treatment..

Also  one of the main side effects of therapy in itself is "itching"

Best to you..
Will



Explanation for Cholestatic Itching
The reason for generalized itching with liver disease is not well understood, other than the apparent link with obstructed bile flow. Bile salts, chemicals closely related to bile, are deposited in your skin when bilirubin levels rise and are thought to be the primary cause of itching. Detailed research and explanations are difficult when a symptom like itching occurs with multiple different diseases, is experienced somewhat differently by each individual and responds to different treatments in different cases.
Helpful - 0
163305 tn?1333668571
It probably doesn't mean anything.
I had a spider angioma, a red spot, on my upper chest for years.
When I was diagnosed with hep C, I found it was because of my liver being damaged. Although it got smaller after my transplant it never went away.
At week 4 during tx, I noticed it had entirely disappeared.
Then it returned but my viral load has remained undetected.

BTW: I never had the itching. If you had significant liver damage, tx will not make it instantly go away.
Your liver will slowly recover if you get rid of the hep C.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community

Top Hepatitis Answerers
317787 tn?1473358451
DC
683231 tn?1467323017
Auburn, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Answer a few simple questions about your Hep C treatment journey.

Those who qualify may receive up to $100 for their time.
Explore More In Our Hep C Learning Center
image description
Learn about this treatable virus.
image description
Getting tested for this viral infection.
image description
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
image description
4 steps to getting on therapy.
image description
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
image description
How the drugs might affect you.
image description
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
Popular Resources
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.