Townsville mum Kirsten Samuel suffering from chronic kidney disease itch excited after first treatment added to PBS

An Qld mum’s debilitating itch during dialysis made her want to scratch her arms with a knife. Now, the federal government has stepped in to help people suffering from the often undiagnosed condition.

Kirsten Samuel suffered from chronic kidney disease itch, which made her want to scratch her arms with a knife.

A debilitating itch during treatment for chronic kidney disease made Townsville mum Kirsten Samuel want to run a knife over her arms.

The relentless itch, which hits many patients during dialysis, was so consuming it was often all Ms Samuel could think about.

Now, a new medication is being added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme which Ms Samuel says would “really help”.

Ms Samuel, who undergoes dialysis three times a week, said she first experienced the itch when she began haemodialysis, a treatment which filters waste and water from blood.

Six-weeks pregnant with her son, Koa, at the time, Ms Samuel said it made many aspects of everyday life extremely difficult.

Kirsten Samuel suffered from chronic kidney disease itch, which made her want to scratch her arms with a knife.

“It really took a toll on my day-to-day life, I mean, throughout doing dialysis I would just completely scratch until I would bleed,” she said.

“I would then also discover when I was driving, if I got itchy, I would have to pull over, I couldn’t keep driving any longer, it was uncontrollably itchy.

“I couldn’t talk to anyone, I couldn’t do anything, I was just focused on that and it was so, yeah, it was very overwhelming.”

Ms Samuels said it was “unfair to live with a horrible disease” and have the itch on top.

“It’s just too much, to be honest,” she said.

Federal Health Min Mark Butler holds a press conference. Tuesday, April 23. 2024. Picture: David Crosling

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said adding the drug Korsuva to the scheme would give thousands of Australians that live with CKD-itch “targeted treatment for the first time”.

“The Albanese Government is committed to making medicines like Korsuva cheaper to give new hope to Australians,” he said.

Kidney Health Australia CEO Chris Forbes said people don’t often think about the associated conditions when discussing CKD.

“Experiencing consistent itching because of CKD can affect all facets of a person’s work and social life, including sleep and overall mood. Having a specifically designed treatment option for haemodialysis patients experiencing CKD-associated itch is a significant step forward to reduce the burden of these symptoms in patients with the greatest need.”

Nephrologist and Chair of Kidney Health Australia Professor Carol Pollock said the itch often goes undiagnosed and untreated.

“With the burden of chronic kidney disease remaining high in Australia, it is important we do what we can to improve quality of life for people living with associated conditions,” she said.

CSL Seqirus Medical Director for Pharmaceuticals Clair Morgan said the listing of Korsuva on the PBS was an “important milestone” for those who suffer from the CKD-associated itch.

Originally published as Townsville mum Kirsten Samuel suffering from chronic kidney disease itch excited after first treatment added to PBS