Skip to main content
  • 1476 Accesses

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

AD:

Atopic dermatitis.

CB:

Cannabinoid receptor.

CGPR:

Calcitonin gene-related peptide.

CNS:

Central nervous system.

DRG:

Dorsal root ganglia.

fMRI:

functional magnetic resonance imaging.

NGF:

Nerve growth factor.

PAR-2:

Proteinase-activated receptor-2

PEA:

Palmitoylethanolamine.

SP:

Substance P

Trp:

Transient receptor potential.

References

  1. Ikoma A, Steinhoff M, Stander S, Yosipovitch G, Schmelz M (2006) The neurobiology of itch. Nat Rev Neurosci 7:535–547

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ständer S, Streit M, Darsow U, Niemeier V, Vogelgsang M, Stander H et al (2006) Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in chronic pruritis. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 4:350–370

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Ständer S (2006) Rational symptomatic therapy for chronic pruritus. Hautarzt 57:403–410

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ständer S, Schmelz M (2006) Chronic itch and pain–similarities and differences. Eur J Pain 10:473–478

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Ständer S, Weisshaar E, Mettang T, Streit M, Darsow U, Schneider G et al (2006) Clinical classification of chronic pruritus: interdisciplinary consensus proposal for a diagnostic algorithm. Hautarzt 57:390–394

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bromm B, Scharein E, Darsow U, Ring J (1995) Effects of menthol and cold on histamine-induced itch and skin reactions in man. Neurosci Lett 187:157–160

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Caterina MJ, Schumacher MA, Tominaga M, Rosen TA, Levine JD, Julius D (1997) The capsaicin receptor: a heat-activated ion channel in the pain pathway. Nature 389:816–824

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Zygmunt PM, Petersson J, Andersson DA, Chuang H, Sorgard M, Di Marzo V et al (1999) Vanilloid receptors on sensory nerves mediate the vasodilator action of anand-amide. Nature 400:452–457

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Jessell TM, Iversen LL, Cuello AC (1978) Capsaicin-induced depletion of substance P from primary sensory neurones. Brain Res 152:183–188

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ständer S, Luger T, Metze D (2001) Treatment of prurigo nodularis with topical capsaicin. J Am Acad Dermatol 44:471–478

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Ständer S, Schmelz M, Metze D, Luger T, Rukwied R (2005) Distribution of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2) on sensory nerve fibers and adnexal structures in human skin. J Dermatol Sci 38:177–188

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Dvorak M, Watkinson A, McGlone F, Rukwied R (2003) Histamine induced responses are attenuated by a cannabinoid receptor agonist in human skin. Inflamm Res 52:238–245

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Rukwied R, Watkinson A, McGlone F, Dvorak M (2003) Cannabinoid agonists attenuate capsaicin-induced responses in human skin. Pain 102:283–288

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Szepietowski JC, Reich A, Szepietowski T (2005) Emollients with endocannabinoids in the treatment of uremic pruritus: discussion of the therapeutic options. Ther Apher Dial 9:277–279

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ständer S, Reinhardt HW, Luger TA (2006) Topical cannabi-noid agonists. An effective new possibility for treating chronic pruritus. Hautarzt 57:801–807

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Peier AM, Moqrich A, Hergarden AC, Reeve AJ, Andersson DA, Story GM et al (2002) A TRP channel that senses cold stimuli and menthol. Cell 108:705–715

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Story GM, Peier AM, Reeve AJ, Eid SR, Mosbacher J, Hricik TR et al (2003) ANKTM1, a TRP-like channel expressed in nociceptive neurons, is activated by cold temperatures. Cell 112:819–829

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Senba E, Katanosaka K, Yajima H, Mizumura K (2004) The immunosuppressant FK506 activates capsaicin- and brady-kinin-sensitive DRG neurons and cutaneous C-fibers. Neurosci Res 50:257–262

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ständer S, Ständer H, Seeliger S, Luger TA, Steinhoff M (2007). Topical pimecrolimus (SDZ ASM 981) and tacroli-mus (FK 506) transiently induces neuropeptide release and mast cell degranulation in murine skin. Br J Dermatol 156:1020–1026

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Ständer S, Schürmeyer-Horst F, Luger TA, Weisshaar E (2006) Treatment of pruritic diseases with topical calcineu-rin inhibitors. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2:213–218

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Hill SJ (1990) Distribution, properties, and functional characteristics of three classes of histamine receptor. Pharmacol Rev 42:45–83

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Gelfand EW, Appajosyula S, Meeves S (2004) Anti-inflammatory activity of H1-receptor antagonists: review of recent experimental research. Curr Med Res Opin 20:73–81

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Andoh T, Kuraishi Y (2002) Inhibitory effects of azelastine on substance P-induced itch-associated response in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 436:235–239

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Amsellem C, Czarlewski W, Lagarde M, Pacheco Y (1998) Inhibitory effect of loratadine on leukotriene B4 production by neutrophils either alone or during interaction with human airway epithelial cells. Pulm Pharmacol Ther 11:245–252

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Lippert U, Kruger-Krasagakes S, Moller A, Kiessling U, Czarnetzki BM (1995) Pharmacological modulation of IL-6 and IL-8 secretion by the H1-antagonist decarboethoxy-lor-atadine and dexamethasone by human mast and basophilic cell lines. Exp Dermatol 4:272–276

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Schroeder JT, Schleimer RP, Lichtenstein LM, Kreutner W (2001) Inhibition of cytokine generation and mediator release by human basophils treated with desloratadine. Clin Exp Allergy 31:1369–1377

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Wu P, Mitchell S, Walsh GM (2005) A new antihistamine levocetirizine inhibits eosinophil adhesion to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 under flow conditions. Clin Exp Allergy 35:1073–1079

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Giustizieri ML, Albanesi C, Fluhr J, Gisondi P, Norgauer J, Girolomoni G (2004) H1 histamine receptor mediates inflammatory responses in human keratinocytes. J Allergy Clin Immunol 114:1176–1182

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Vancheri C, Mastruzzo C, Tomaselli V, Bellistri G, Pistorio MP, Greco LR et al (2005) The effect of fexofena-dine on expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and induction of apoptosis on peripheral eosinophils. Allergy Asthma Proc 26:292–298

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Dimkovic N, Djukanovic L, Radmilovic A, Bojic P, Juloski T (1992) Uremic pruritus and skin mast cells. Nephron 61:5–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Francos GC, Kauh YC, Gittlen SD, Schulman ES, Besarab A, Goyal S et al (1991) Elevated plasma histamine in chronic uremia. Effects of ketotifen on pruritus. Int J Dermatol 30:884–889

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Gillard M, Chatelain P (2006) Changes in pH differently affect the binding properties of histamine H1 receptor antagonists. Eur J Pharmacol 530:205–214

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Bell JK, McQueen DS, Rees JL (2004) Involvement of histamine H4 and H1 receptors in scratching induced by histamine receptor agonists in Balb C mice. Br J Pharmacol 142:374–380

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Twycross R, Greaves MW, Handwerker H, Jones EA, Libretto SE, Szepietowski JC et al (2003) Itch: scratching more than the surface. QJM 96:7–26

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Andoh T, Kuraishi Y (1998) Intradermal leukotriene B4, but not prostaglandin E2, induces itch-associated responses in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 353:93–96

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Miyoshi M, Sakurai T, Kodama S (1999) Clinical evaluation of urinary leukotriene E4 levels in children with atopic dermatitis. Arerugi 48:1148–1152

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Bernardini N, Roza C, Sauer SK, Gomeza J, Wess J, Reeh PW (2002) Muscarinic M2 receptors on peripheral nerve endings: a molecular target of antinociception. J Neurosci 22:RC229

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Di Lorenzo G, Pacor ML, Mansueto P, Esposito-Pellitteri M, Ditta V, Lo Bianco C et al (2006) Is there a role for antileu-kotrienes in urticaria? Clin Exp Dermatol 31:327–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Carucci JA, Washenik K, Weinstein A, Shupack J, Cohen DE (1998) The leukotriene antagonist zafirlukast as a therapeutic agent for atopic dermatitis. Arch Dermatol 134:785–786

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Woodmansee DP, Simon RA (1999) A pilot study examining the role of zileuton in atopic dermatitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 83:548–552

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Zabawski EJ Jr, Kahn MA, Gregg LJ (1999) Treatment of atopic dermatitis with zafirlukast. Dermatol Online J 5:10

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Takaoka A, Arai I, Sugimoto M, Honma Y, Futaki N, Nakamura A et al (2006) Involvement of IL-31 on scratching behavior in NC/Nga mice with atopic-like dermatitis. Exp Dermatol 15:161–167

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Gaspari AA, Lotze MT, Rosenberg SA, Stern JB, Katz SI (1987) Dermatologic changes associated with interleukin 2 administration. JAMA 258:1624–1629

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Darsow U, Scharein E, Bromm B, Ring J (1997) Skin testing of the pruritogenic activity of histamine and cytokines (inter-leukin-2 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha) at the dermal-epidermal junction. Br J Dermatol 137:415–417

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Martin HA, Murphy PR (1995) Interleukin-2 activates a subpopulation of cutaneous C-fibre polymodal nociceptors in the rat hairy skin. Arch Physiol Biochem 103:136–148

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Martin HA (1996) Bradykinin potentiates the chemorespon-siveness of rat cutaneous C-fibre polymodal nociceptors to interleukin-2. Arch Physiol Biochem 104:229–238

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Wahlgren CF, Scheynius A, Hagermark O (1990) Antipruritic effect of oral cyclosporin A in atopic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol 70:323–329

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Andrew D, Craig AD (2001) Spinothalamic lamina I neurons selectively sensitive to histamine: a central neural pathway for itch. Nat Neurosci 4:72–77

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Jinks SL, Carstens E (2000) Superficial dorsal horn neurons identified by intracutaneous histamine: chemonociceptive responses and modulation by morphine. J Neurophysiol 84:616–627

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Drzezga A, Darsow U, Treede RD, Siebner H, Frisch M, Munz F et al (2001) Central activation by histamine-induced itch: analogies to pain processing: a correlational analysis of O-15 H2O positron emission tomography studies. Pain 92:295–305

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Manenti L, Vaglio A (2005) Gabapentin for uraemic pruritus. Nephrol Dial Transplant 20:1278–1279

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Yesudian PD, Wilson NJ (2005) Efficacy of gabapentin in the management of pruritus of unknown origin. Arch Dermatol 141:1507–1509

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Schürmeyer-Horst F, Fischbach R, Nabavi D, Metze D, Ständer S (2006) Brachioradial pruritus: a rare, loalized, neuropathic form of itching. Hautarzt 57:523–527

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Ben-Menachem E (2004) Pregabalin pharmacology and its relevance to clinical practice. Epilepsia 45(suppl 6):13–18

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Wedekind D, Bandelow B (2005) The alpha2delta subunit of the voltage-dependent calcium channel. A new pharmaceutical target for psychiatry and neurology. Nervenarzt 76:888–891

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Metze D, Reimann S, Luger TA (1999) Effective treatment of pruritus with naltrexone, an orally active opiate antagonist. Ann N Y Acad Sci 885:430–432

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Metze D, Reimann S, Beissert S, Luger T (1999) Efficacy and safety of naltrexone, an oral opiate receptor antagonist, in the treatment of pruritus in internal and dermatological diseases. J Am Acad Dermatol 41:533–539

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Bergasa N V, Alling DW, Talbot TL, Wells MC, Jones EA (1999) Oral nalmefene therapy reduces scratching activity due to the pruritus of cholestasis: a controlled study. J Am Acad Dermatol 41:431–434

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Mansour-Ghanaei F, Taheri A, Froutan H, Ghofrani H, Nasiri-Toosi M, Bagherzadeh AH et al (2006) Effect of oral naltrexone on pruritus in cholestatic patients. World J Gastroenterol 12:1125–1128

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Monroe EW (1989) Efficacy and safety of nalmefene in patients with severe pruritis caused by chronic urticaria and atopic dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol 21:135–136

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Brune A, Metze D, Luger TA, Stander S (2004) Antipruritic therapy with the oral opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone. Open, non-placebo controlled administration in 133 patients. Hautarzt 55:1130–1136

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Tefferi A, Fonseca R (2002) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are effective in the treatment of polycythemia vera-associated pruritus. Blood 99:2627

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Zylicz Z, Smits C, Krajnik M (1998) Paroxetine for pruritus in advanced cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage 16:121–124

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Zylicz Z, Krajnik M, Sorge AA, Costantini M (2003) Paroxetine in the treatment of severe non-dermatological pruritus: a randomized, controlled trial. J Pain Symptom Manage 26:1105–1112

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Muller C, Pongratz S, Pidlich J, Penner E, Kaider A, Schemper M et al (1998) Treatment of pruritus in chronic liver disease with the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor type 3 antagonist ondansetron: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind cross-over trial. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 10:865–870

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Schworer H, Hartmann H, Ramadori G (1995) Relief of chole-static pruritus by a novel class of drugs: 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists: effectiveness of ondanse-tron. Pain 61:33–37

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Weisshaar E, Dunker N, Domrose U, Neumann KH, Gollnick H (2003) Plasma serotonin and histamine levels in hemodialysis-related pruritus are not significantly influenced by 5-HT3 receptor blocker and antihistaminic therapy. Clin Nephrol 59:124–129

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Zhang X, Huang J, McNaughton PA (2005) NGF rapidly increases membrane expression of TRPV1 heat-gated ion channels. EMBO J 24:4211–4223

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Johansson O, Liang Y, Emtestam L (2002) Increased nerve growth factor- and tyrosine kinase A-like immunoreactivi-ties in prurigo nodularis skin — an exploration of the cause of neurohyperplasia. Arch Dermatol Res 293:614–619

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Toyoda M, Nakamura M, Makino T, Hino T, Kagoura M, Morohashi M (2002) Nerve growth factor and substance P are useful plasma markers of disease activity in atopic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 147:71–79

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Steinhoff M, Vergnolle N, Young SH, Tognetto M, Amadesi S, Ennes HS et al (2000) Agonists of proteinase-activated receptor 2 induce inflammation by a neurogenic mechanism. Nat Med 6:151–158

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Obreja O, Rukwied R, Steinhoff M, Schmelz M (2006) Neurogenic components of trypsin- and thrombin-induced inflammation in rat skin, in vivo. Exp Dermatol 15:58–65

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Ui H, Andoh T, Lee JB, Nojima H, Kuraishi Y (2006) Potent pruritogenic action of tryptase mediated by PAR-2 receptor and its involvement in anti-pruritic effect of nafamostat mesilate in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 530:172–178

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Steinhoff M, Neisius U, Ikoma A, Fartasch M, Heyer G, Skov PS et al (2003) Proteinase-activated receptor-2 mediates itch: a novel pathway for pruritus in human skin. J Neurosci 23:6176–6180

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Sheskin J (1975) Treatment of prurigo nodularis Hyde using thalidomide. Hautarzt 26:215–217

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. van den Broek H (1980) Treatment of prurigo nodularis with thalidomide. Arch Dermatol 116:571–572

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Winkelmann RK, Connolly SM, Doyle JA, Padilha-Goncalves A (1984) Thalidomide treatment of prurigo nod-ularis. Acta Derm Venereol 64:412–417

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Maurer T, Poncelet A, Berger T (2004) Thalidomide treatment for prurigo nodularis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected subjects: efficacy and risk of neuropathy. Arch Dermatol 140:845–849

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Silva SR, Viana PC, Lugon NV, Hoette M, Ruzany F, Lugon JR (1994) Thalidomide for the treatment of uremic pruritus: a crossover randomized double-blind trial. Nephron 67:270–273

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Daly BM, Shuster S (2000) Antipruritic action of thalidomide. Acta Derm Venereol 80:24–25

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  81. McCormick PA, Scott F, Epstein O, Burroughs AK, Scheuer PJ, McIntyre N (1994) Thalidomide as therapy for primary biliary cirrhosis: a double-blind placebo controlled pilot study. J Hepatol 21:496–499

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  82. Ständer S, Böckenholt B, Schürmeyer-Horst F, Heuft G, Luger TA, Schneider G (2009) Treatment of Chronic Pruritus with the Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors Paroxetine and Fluvoxamine: Results of an open-labeled, two-arm Proof-of-concept Study. Acta DermatoVenereol; 89:45–51

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sonja Ständer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ständer, S., Luger, T.A. (2010). Pruritus. In: Krieg, T., Bickers, D.R., Miyachi, Y. (eds) Therapy of Skin Diseases. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-78814-0_24

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-78814-0_24

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-78813-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-78814-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics