Therapy of pruritus

Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy

Volumn 11, Issue 10, 2010, Pages 1673-1682

  Patel, Tejesh ^a   Yosipovitch, Gil ^b,c  

^a UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER   (United States)

^b WAKE FOREST BAPTIST HEALTH   (United States)

^c WAKE FOREST SCHOOL OF MEDICINE   (United States)

Author keywords

Antipruritics; Itching; Pruritus; Skin disease

Indexed keywords

ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID; ANTIHISTAMINIC AGENT; BUTORPHANOL; CALCINEURIN INHIBITOR; CAPSAICIN; CETIRIZINE; DESLORATADINE; DOXEPIN; FLUVOXAMINE; HYDROCORTISONE; HYDROXYZINE; LEVOCETIRIZINE; LIDOCAINE; LOCAL ANESTHETIC AGENT; LORATADINE; MENTHOL; MIRTAZAPINE; NALFURAFINE; NALMEFENE; NALTREXONE; PALMIDROL; PAROXETINE; PIMECROLIMUS; POLIDOCANOL; PRAMOCAINE; PRILOCAINE; SERTRALINE; TACROLIMUS; TS 022; UNCLASSIFIED DRUG; UNINDEXED DRUG; UREA;

BEDTIME DOSAGE; BURNING SENSATION; CLINICAL TRIAL; DERMATITIS; DRUG EFFECT; DRUG EFFICACY; DRUG RESPONSE; GRAFT VERSUS HOST REACTION; HUMAN; LICHEN SCLEROSUS ET ATROPHICUS; PAIN; PRURIGO; PRURITUS; REVIEW; SKIN ALLERGY; SKIN ATROPHY; SKIN DISEASE; STINGING SENSATION; SYMPTOM; TELANGIECTASIA; TREATMENT OUTCOME;

ADRENAL CORTEX HORMONES; ANTIDEPRESSIVE AGENTS; ANTIPSYCHOTIC AGENTS; CAPSAICIN; EMOLLIENTS; HISTAMINE ANTAGONISTS; HUMANS; IMMUNOLOGIC FACTORS; MENTHOL; PRURITUS;

EID: 77953646385     PISSN: 14656566     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1517/14656566.2010.484420     Document Type: Review

References (96)

1. Gupta MA, Gupta AK, Schork NJ, Ellis CN. Depression modulates pruritus perception: a study of pruritus in psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and chronic idiopathic urticaria. Psychosom Med 1994;56:36-40
2. Haffenrefer S. Nosodochium in quo cutis, eique adherentium partium, affecta omnes singulari methodo et cognoscendi et curandi fidelissime tradutus. In: Ulm K, editor, De pruritu; 1660. p. 98-102
3. Yosipovitch G, Greaves M. Defintions of itch. In: Yosipovitch G, Greaves MW, Fleischer AB Jr, McGlone F, editors, Itch: basic mechanisms and therapy. Marcel Dekker, New York; 2004. p. 1-4
4. Pisoni RL, Wikstrom B, Elder SJ, et al. Pruritus in haemodialysis patients: international results from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS). Nephrol Dial Transplant 2006;21:3495-3505
5. Kretzmer GE, Gelkopf M, Kretzmer G, Melamed Y. Idiopathic pruritus in psychiatric inpatients: an explorative study. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2008;30:344-348
6. Stander S, Weisshaar E, Mettang T, et al. Clinical classification of itch: a position paper of the International Forum for the Study of Itch. Acta Derm Venereol 2007;87:291-294
7. Yosipovitch G, Goon A, Wee J, et al. The prevalence and clinical characteristics of pruritus among patients with extensive psoriasis. Br J Dermatol 2000;143:969-973
8. Yosipovitch G, Ansari N, Goon A, et al. Clinical characteristics of pruritus in chronic idiopathic urticaria. Br J Dermatol 2002;147:32-36
9. Yosipovitch G, Goon AT, Wee J, et al. Itch characteristics in Chinese patients with atopic dermatitis using a new questionnaire for the assessment of pruritus. Int J Dermatol 2002;41:212-216
10. Narita I, Alchi B, Omori K, et al. Etiology and prognostic significance of severe uremic pruritus in chronic hemodialysis patients. Kidney Int 2006;69:1626-1632
11. Duque MI, Vogel CA, Fleischer AB Jr, Yosipovitch G. Over-the-counter topical antipruritic agents are commonly recommended by office-based physicians: an analysis of US practice patterns. J Dermatolog Treat 2004;15:185-188
12. Lee CH, Chuang HY, Shih CC, et al. epidermal water loss, serum IgE and beta-endorphin as important and independent biological markers for development of itch intensity in atopic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 2006;154:1100-1107
13. Yosipovitch G, Xiong GL, Haus E, et al. Time-dependent variations of the skin barrier function in humans: transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration, skin surface pH, and skin temperature. J Invest Dermatol 1998;110:20-23
14. Patel T, Ishiuji Y, Yosipovitch G. Nocturnal itch: why do we itch at night? Acta Derm Venereol 2007;87:295-298
15. Steinhoff M, Neisius U, Ikoma A, et al. Proteinase-activated receptor-2 mediates itch: a novel pathway for pruritus in human skin. J Neurosci 2003;23:6176-6180
16. Yosipovitch G, Papoiu AD. What causes itch in atopic dermatitis? Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2008;8:306-311
17. Zhai H, Frisch S, Pelosi A, et al. Antipruritic and thermal sensation effects of hydrocortisone creams in human skin. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol 2000;13:352-357
18. Hon KL, Lam MC, Leung TF, et al. Assessing itch in children with atopic dermatitis treated with tacrolimus: objective versus subjective assessment. Adv Ther 2007;24:23-28
19. Kaufmann R, Bieber T, Helgesen AL, et al. Onset of pruritus relief with pimecrolimus cream 1% in adult patients with atopic dermatitis: a randomized trial. Allergy 2006;61:375-381
20. Stander S, Schurmeyer-Horst F, Luger TA, Weisshaar E. Treatment of pruritic diseases with topical calcineurin inhibitors. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2006;2:213-218
21. Pereira U, Boulais N, Lebonvallet N, et al. Mechanisms of sensory effects of tacrolimus on the skin. Br J Dermatol 2010. [Epub ahead of print]
22. Senba E, Katanosaka K, Yajima H, Mizumura K. The immunosuppressant FK506 activates capsaicin- and bradykinin-sensitive DRG neurons and cutaneous C-fibers. Neurosci Res 2004;50:257-262
23. Stander S, Stander H, Seeliger S, et al. Topical pimecrolimus and tacrolimus transiently induce neuropeptide release and mast cell degranulation in murine skin. Br J Dermatol 2007;156:1020-1026
24. Shim WS, Tak MH, Lee MH, et al. TRPV1 mediates histamine-induced itching via the activation of phospholipase A2 and 12-lipoxygenase. J Neurosci 2007;27:2331-2337
25. Drake LA, Fallon JD, Sober A. Relief of pruritus in patients with atopic dermatitis after treatment with topical doxn cream. The Doxepin Study Group. J Am Acad Dermatol 1994;31:613-616
26. Drake LA, Millikan LE. The antipruritic effect of 5% doxepin cream in patients with eczematous dermatitis. Doxepin Study Group. Arch Dermatol 1995;131:1403-1408
27. McKemy DD, Neuhausser WM, Julius D. Identification of a cold receptor reveals a general role for TRP channels in thermosensation. Nature 2002;416:52-58
28. Peier AM, Moqrich A, Hergarden AC, et al. A TRP channel that senses cold stimuli and menthol. Cell 2002;108:705-715
29. Bromm B, Scharein E, Darsow U, Ring J. Effects of menthol and cold on histamine-induced itch and skin reactions in man. Neurosci Lett 1995;187:157-160
30. Patel T, Ishiuji Y, Yosipovitch G. Menthol: a refreshing look at this ancient compound. J Am Acad Dermatol 2007;57:873-878
31. Caterina MJ, Schumacher MA, Tominaga M, et al. The capsaicin receptor: a heat-activated ion channel in the pain pathway. Nature 1997;389:816-824
32. Jessell TM, Iversen LL, Cuello AC. Capsaicin-induced depletion of substance P from primary sensory neurones. Brain Res 1978;152:183-188
33. Imamachi N, Park GH, Lee H, et al. TRPV1-expressing primary afferents generate behavioral responses to pruritogens via multiple mechanisms. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2009;106:11330-11335
34. Stander S, Luger T, Metze D. Treatment of prurigo nodularis with topical capsaicin. J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;44:471-478
35. Leibsohn E. Treatment of notalgia paresthetica with capsaicin. Cutis 1992;49:335-336
36. Breneman DL, Cardone JS, Blumsack RF, et al. Topical capsaicin for treatment of hemodialysis-related pruritus. J Am Acad Dermatol 1992;26:91-94
37. Goodless DR, Eaglstein WH. Brachioradial pruritus: treatment with topical capsaicin. J Am Acad Dermatol 1993;29:783-784
38. Lotti T, Teofoli P, Tsampau D. Treatment of aquagenic pruritus with topical capsaicin cream. J Am Acad Dermatol 1994;30:232-235
39. Yosipovitch G, Maibach HI, Rowbotham MC. Effect of EMLA pre-treatment on capsaicin-induced burning and hyperalgesia. Acta Derm Venereol 1999;79:118-121
40. Wang H, Papoiu AD, Coghill RC, et al. Ethnic differences in pain, itch and thermal detection in response to topical capsaicin: African Americans display a notably limited hyperalgesia and neurogenic inflammation. Br J Dermatol 2009. [Epub ahead of print]
41. Yosipovitch G, Maibach HI. Effect of topical pramoxine on experimentally induced pruritus in humans. J Am Acad Dermatol 1997;37:278-280
42. Shuttleworth D, Hill S, Marks R, Connelly DM. Relief of experimentally induced pruritus with a novel eutectic mixture of local anaesthetic agents. Br J Dermatol 1988;119:535-540
43. Sandroni P. Central neuropathic itch: a new treatment option? Neurology 2002;59:778-779
44. Young TA, Patel TS, Camacho F, et al. A pramoxine-based anti-itch lotion is more effective than a control lotion for the treatment of uremic pruritus in adult hemodialysis patients. J Dermatolog Treat 2009;20:76-81
45. Villamil AG, Bandi JC, Galdame OA, et al. Efficacy of lidocaine in the treatment of pruritus in patients with chronic cholestatic liver diseases. Am J Med 2005;118:1160-1163
46. Freitag G, Hoppner T. Results of a postmarketing drug monitoring survey with a polidocanol-urea preparation for dry, itching skin. Curr Med Res Opin 1997;13:529-537
47. Yosipovitch G, Sugeng MW, Chan YH, et al. The effect of topically applied aspirin on localized circumscribed neurodermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;45:910-913
48. Andoh T, Nishikawa Y, Yamaguchi-Miyamoto T, et al. Thromboxane A2 induces itch-associated responses through TP receptors in the skin in mice. J Invest Dermatol 2007;127:2042-2047
49. Stander S, Schmelz M, Metze D, et al. Distribution of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2) on sensory nerve fibers and adnexal structures in human skin. J Dermatol Sci 2005;38:177-188
50. Dvorak M, Watkinson A, McGlone F, Rukwied R. Histamine induced responses are attenuated by a cannabinoid receptor agonist in human skin. Inflamm Res 2003;52:238-245
51. Szepietowski JC, Szepietowski T, Reich A. Efficacy and tolerance of the cream containing structured physiological lipids with endocannabinoids in the treatment of uremic pruritus: a preliminary study. Acta Dermatovenerol Croat 2005;13:97-103
52. Eberlein B, Eicke C, Reinhardt HW, Ring J. Adjuvant treatment of atopic eczema: assessment of an emollient containing N-palmitoylethanolamine (ATOPA study). J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2008;22:73-82
53. Stander S, Reinhardt HW, Luger TA. Topical cannabinoid agonists. An effective new possibility for treating chronic pruritus. Hautarzt 2006;57:801-807
54. Davis MP, Frandsen JL, Walsh D, et al. Mirtazapine for pruritus. J Pain Symptom Manage 2003;25:288-291
55. Hundley JL, Yosipovitch G. Mirtazapine for reducing nocturnal itch in patients with chronic pruritus: a pilot study. J Am Acad Dermatol 2004;50:889-891
56. Demierre MF, Taverna J. Mirtazapine and gabapentin for reducing pruritus in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. J Am Acad Dermatol 2006;55:543-544
57. de Boer T. The effects of mirtazapine on central noradrenergic and serotonergic neurotransmission. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 1995;10(Suppl 4):19-23
58. Stimmel GL, Dopheide JA, Stahl SM. Mirtazapine: an antidepressant with noradrenergic and specific serotonergic effects. Pharmacotherapy 1997;17:10-21
59. Stander S, Weisshaar E, Luger TA. Neurophysiological and neurochemical basis of modern pruritus treatment. Exp Dermatol 2008;17:161-169
60. Stander S, Bockenholt B, Schurmeyer-Horst F, et al. Treatment of chronic pruritus with the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors paroxetine and fluvoxamine: results of an open-labelled, two-arm proof-of-concept study. Acta Derm Venereol 2009;89:45-51
61. Mayo MJ, Handem I, Saldana S, et al. Sertraline as a first-line treatment for cholestatic pruritus. Hepatology 2007;45:666-674
62. Umeuchi H, Togashi Y, Honda T, et al. Involvement of central mu-opioid system in the scratching behavior in mice, and the suppression of it by the activation of kappa-opioid system. Eur J Pharmacol 2003;477:29-35
63. Togashi Y, Umeuchi H, Okano K, et al. Antipruritic activity of the kappa-opioid receptor agonist, TRK-820. Eur J Pharmacol 2002;435:259-264
64. Pan ZZ. mu-Opposing actions of the kappa-opioid receptor. Trends Pharmacol Sci 1998;19:94-98
65. Kjellberg F, Tramer MR. Pharmacological control of opioid-induced pruritus: a quantitative systematic review of randomized trials. Eur J Anaesthesiol 2001;18:346-357
66. Mansour-Ghanaei F, Taheri A, Froutan H, et al. Effect of oral naltrexone on pruritus in cholestatic patients. World J Gastroenterol 2006;12:1125-1128
67. Malekzad F, Arbabi M, Mohtasham N, et al. Efficacy of oral naltrexone on pruritus in atopic eczema: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2009;23:948-950
68. Jung SI, Seo CH, Jang K, et al. Efficacy of naltrexone in the treatment of chronic refractory itching in burn patients: preliminary report of an open trial. J Burn Care Res 2009;30:257-260
69. Peer G, Kivity S, Agami O, et al. Randomised crossover trial of naltrexone in uraemic pruritus. Lancet 1996;348:1552-1554
70. Bergasa NV, Alling DW, Talbot TL, et al. Oral nalmefene therapy reduces scratching activity due to the pruritus of cholestasis: a controlled study. J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;41:431-434
71. Monroe EW. Efficacy and safety of nalmefene in patients with severe pruritus caused by chronic urticaria and atopic dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol 1989;21:135-136
72. Dawn AG, Yosipovitch G. Butorphanol for treatment of intractable pruritus. J Am Acad Dermatol 2006;54:527-531
73. Kumagai H, Ebata T, Takamori K, et al. Effect of a novel kappa-receptor agonist, nalfurafine hydrochloride, on severe itch in 337 haemodialysis patients: a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2010;25(4):1251-1257
74. Kanitakis J. Brachioradial pruritus: report of a new case responding to gabapentin. Eur J Dermatol 2006;16:311-312
75. Loosemore MP, Bordeaux JS, Bernhard JD. Gabapentin treatment for notalgia paresthetica, a common isolated peripheral sensory neuropathy. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2007;21:1440-1441
76. Gunal AI, Ozalp G, Yoldas TK, et al. Gabapentin therapy for pruritus in haemodialysis patients: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2004;19:3137-3139
77. Manenti L, Vaglio A. Gabapentin for uraemic pruritus. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2005;20:1278-1279
78. Bergasa NV, McGee M, Ginsburg IH, Engler D. Gabapentin in patients with the pruritus of cholestasis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Hepatology 2006;44:1317-1323
79. Ehrchen J, Stander S. Pregabalin in the treatment of chronic pruritus. J Am Acad Dermatol 2008;58:S36-S37
80. Duval A, Dubertret L. Aprepitant as an antipruritic agent? N Engl J Med 2009;361:1415-1416
81. Wahlgren CF. Itch and atopic dermatitis: clinical and experimental studies. Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh) 1991;165:1-53
82. Meggitt SJ, Gray JC, Reynolds NJ. Azathioprine dosed by thiopurine methyltransferase activity for moderate-to-severe atopic eczema: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2006;367:839-846
83. Meggitt SJ, Reynolds NJ. Azathioprine for atopic dermatitis. Clin Exp Dermatol 2001;26:369-375
84. Bigliardi PL, Stammer H, Jost G, et al. Treatment of pruritus with topically applied opiate receptor antagonist. J Am Acad Dermatol 2007;56:979-988
85. Friedman JD, Dello Buono FA. Opioid antagonists in the treatment of opioid-induced constipation and pruritus. Ann Pharmacother 2001;35:85-91
86. Noto C, Pappagallo M, Szallasi A. NGX-4010, a high-concentration capsaicin dermal patch for lasting relief of peripheral neuropathic pain. Curr Opin Investig Drugs 2009;10:702-710
87. Arai I, Takano N, Hashimoto Y, et al. Prostanoid DP1 receptor agonist inhibits the pruritic activity in NC/Nga mice with atopic dermatitis. Eur J Pharmacol 2004;505:229-235
88. Sugimoto M, Arai I, Futaki N, et al. Putative mechanism of the itch-scratch circle: repeated scratching decreases the cutaneous level of prostaglandin D2, a mediator that inhibits itching. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2007;76:93-101
89. Arai I, Takaoka A, Hashimoto Y, et al. Effects of TS-022, a newly developed prostanoid DP1 receptor agonist, on experimental pruritus, cutaneous barrier disruptions and atopic dermatitis in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2007;556:207-214
90. Sonkoly E, Muller A, Lauerma AI, et al. IL-31: a new link between T cells and pruritus in atopic skin inflammation. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006;117:411-417
91. Sonkoly E, Muller A, Lauerma AI, et al. IL-31: a new link between T cells and pruritus in atopic skin inflammation. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006;117:411-417
92. Grimstad O, Sawanobori Y, Vestergaard C, et al. Anti-interleukin- 31-antibodies ameliorate scratching behaviour in NC/Nga mice: a model of atopic dermatitis. Exp Dermatol 2009;18:35-43
93. Dalgard F, Svensson A, Holm JO, Sundby J. Self-reported skin morbidity among adults: associations with quality of life and general health in a Norwegian survey. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc 2004;9:120-125
94. Wang H, Yosipovitch G. New insights into the pathophysiology and treatment of chronic itch in patients with end-stage renal disease, chronic liver disease, and lymphoma. Int J Dermatol 2010;49:1-11
95. Ikoma A, Steinhoff M, Stander S, et al. The neurobiology of itch. Nat Rev Neurosci 2006;7:535-547
96. Ishiuji Y, Coghill RC, Patel TS, et al. Repetitive scratching and noxious heat do not inhibit histamine-induced itch in atopic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 2008;158:78-83