title: Topically applied aspirin rapidly decreases histamine-induced itch.
abstract: The effect of topical aspirin and its model vehicle dichloromethane on itch experimentally induced with histamine was studied in 16 subjects, using a visual analogue scale and computerized aspirin, but not its vehicle, significantly reduced itch duration (p = 0.001) and decreased itch magnitude as measured with a visual analogue scale (p < 0.04). Histamine injection caused elevation of warmth sensation threshold (p = 10(-8)) but did not affect cold and heat pain thresholds. Aspirin and vehicle application did not affect thermal and pain thresholds during histamine-induced itch. The current data suggest that topical application of aspirin may be beneficial for the treatment of histamine-mediated itch. Its therapeutic role in the management of clinical itch remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yosipovitch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ademola
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Maibach
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D008297:Male; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D006632:Histamine; D001241:Aspirin