Clinical presentation, management, and pathophysiology of neuropathic itch

Summary: Unlike conventional itch, neuropathic itch develops in normal skin from excess peripheral firing or dampened central inhibition of itch pathway neurons. Neuropathic itch is a symptom of the same central and peripheral nervous system disorders that cause neuropathic pain, such as sensory pol...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Steinhoff, Martin (Author) , Schmelz, Martin (Author) , Szabó, Imre Lőrinc (Author) , Oaklander, Anne Louise (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: August 01, 2018
In: The lancet
Year: 2018, Volume: 17, Issue: 8, Pages: 709-720
ISSN:1474-4465
DOI:10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30217-5
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30217-5
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(18)30217-5/abstract
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Author Notes:Martin Steinhoff, Martin Schmelz, Imre Lőrinc Szabó, Anne Louise Oaklander
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Summary:Summary: Unlike conventional itch, neuropathic itch develops in normal skin from excess peripheral firing or dampened central inhibition of itch pathway neurons. Neuropathic itch is a symptom of the same central and peripheral nervous system disorders that cause neuropathic pain, such as sensory polyneuropathy, radiculopathy, herpes zoster, stroke, or multiple sclerosis, and lesion location affects symptoms more than aetiology. The causes of neuropathic itch are heterogeneous, and thus diagnosis is based primarily on recognising characteristic, disease-specific clinical presentations. However, the diagnosis of neuropathic itch is challenging, different subforms exist (eg, focal <i>vs</i> widespread, peripheral <i>vs</i> central), and the mechanisms of neuropathic itch are poorly understood, resulting in reduced treatment availability. Currently available strategies include treating or preventing causal diseases, such as diabetes or herpes zoster, and topical or systemic medications that calm excess neuronal firing. Discovery of itch mediators such as gastrin releasing peptide, receptors (eg, neurokinin-1), and pathways (eg, Janus kinases) might encourage much needed new research into targeted treatments of neuropathic itch.
Item Description:Gesehen am 14.04.2020
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1474-4465
DOI:10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30217-5