Icodextrin, a glucose polymer used in peritoneal dialysis for patients with renal failure, may cause allergic skin reactions, according to renal specialists from Guy's hospital, London (Lancet 2000;355:897). Dr David Goldsmith and colleagues say that allergic reactions involving skin exfoliation have been reported in only six out of the many hundreds of patients exposed to icodextrin. However, from a review of the use of icodextrin in their own department they estimate that up to 15 per cent of patients experience skin reactions - exfoliative or blistering - which may be serious in about a third of cases.
Dr R. N. Boyes (group research and development director, ML Laboratories, manufacturer of icodextrin) told The Journal that, although there had been occasional reports of skin reactions, the incidence was much lower than suggested. He added that patients who had peritoneal dialysis were already susceptible to pruritus, which was an effect of renal failure.