[Pruritus--a little known iron-deficiency symptom]

Five episodes of iron deficiency anemia associated with pruritus were observed in 4 women. In contrast to the majority of cases in the literature the pruritus in our patients was localized and not generalized. It disappeared 1--14 days after the beginning of iron replacement. --Iron deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis of both generalized and localized pruritus. The literature suggests that pruritus associated with low serum iron levels in malignancy may respond to iron therapy