A 29-year-old employee had an occupational accident leading to a femoral fracture. After surgery, he developed an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) necessitating intensive care treatment.Three weeks after the accident, he suffered severe generalized itching on a daily basis which was unresponsive to systemic and topical treatments. After one year, the itching decreased continuously to approximately 50% of its initial intensity. In view of the typical history and clinical characteristics of pruritus, the approved hydroxyethyl starch (HES) administered and evidence of its storage in tissue, HES-induced pruritus was diagnosed. This case report is meant to call attention to the fact that HES-induced pruritus can be a secondary consequence of an occupational accident and may be relevant for the patient's insurance compensation.
