hydroxyethyl starch-induced pruritus hydroxyethyl starch-induced pruritus hydroxyethyl starch-induced pruritus is an intense itching, lasting for as long as one year, occurring following hydroxyethyl starch intravenous infusion for vascular insufficiency.: 401 there is no treatment for the itch. hydroxyethyl starch-induced pruritusspecialtydermatology an updated clinical review on storage in different tissues describes a pattern of storage in the reticuloendothelial system and also the skin (wiedermann). differential storage described via immuno-electron microscopy, see ständer 2001 below.