Neckline insertion and prickly heat r ash connection

[chrisb]

Hi, I recently had a neckline inserted and within a couple of hours started to get itching over my chest, neck right ear, right underarm and right arm. Over the course of the week the itching got stronger, and I could feel hundreds and hundreds of tiny blister like lumps under the skin. I am told there is no connection between this and the procedure or the liquid they syringe into the line after dialysis. I find it very hard to believe that it is a coincidence that this has all appeared all over the side of my body that the line has been inserted. Has anyone experienced anything similar?

[wagolynn]

Hi chrisb,
Do you know what they are using to fill your neckline after dialysis? Some units use Heparin or Innohep, they are not known to cause rashes, there are others based on citric acid, they may cause reactions.

During insertion of the line, they will have used an antiseptic on your skin but these do not usually cause problems.

The best I have had for itching is Hydromol ointment, your GP will prescribe it for you.

[chrisb]

Hi wagolyn . Interesting that you mention citric acid as the fluid they inserted was called cit.........?. I told them I thought it could only be that and they changed it to something else and the itching is starting to subside. This site is so useful for problems like this as I found during my kidney journey that whatever little hiccups like this that I experience, the renal staff Inc the neph deny knowledge of anyone else ever having experienced it.

[wagolynn]

The citric acid based stuff (there are several brand names) is supposed to be better, however in many cases it causes more problems than it solves.

Filling the line with Heparin or Innohep appears to work very well, and most peoples problems disappear after changing to them.

As I understand it, Innohep is a more refined version of Heparin.

[Duker5]

I've been having haemodialysis now for the last 3 years and 7 months via a neckline, I've had 2 necklines now, 1 on the right side then when that stopped working well last October they removed it and put another 1 in on my left side and I've never had them use any citric based line locks in my line, they use a combination in my line and one of the things is called urokinase.

[wagolynn]

Dialysis units vary in what blood thinners they use. Prickly heat rash is not listed as a urokinase side effect.

[Duker5]

They don't just use Urokinase, they use that combined with something else, I just can't recall what that something else is. They used to use taurolock but in my 1st line that was pretty ineffective and they stopped using it on me and from what I've found out taurolocks ingredients are 4% citrate and I never experienced any side effects from it apart from simply it didn't work for me in keeping my line in good condition.

[wagolynn]

I have heard of other people finding the citrus based line stops not working, the unit I attend uses Innohep as a line stopper, and it works fine.