Active "itch fibers" in chronic pruritus.
An itch-specific neuronal pathway was recently discovered in healthy humans and animals. Here the authors report that activity in this specific pathway coincides with itch under pathophysiologic conditions in a patient with chronic pruritus. Microneurographic recordings from the symptomatic area revealed spontaneous activity in six single C-fiber afferents that had the characteristic features of "itch fibers." Itch may be caused by activity in a specific subpopulation of C-fiber afferents.
Schmelz
M
M
Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Uppsala, Sweden. schmelz@physiologie1.uni-erlangen.de
Hilliges
M
M
Schmidt
R
R
Ørstavik
K
K
Vahlquist
C
C
Weidner
C
C
Handwerker
H O
HO
Torebjörk
H E
HE
D002908:Chronic Disease; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036421:Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction; D011536:Prurigo / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity