Profound inhibition of chronic itch induced by stimulation of thin cutaneous nerve fibres.
BACKGROUND
Despite the fact that severe itch is common in many dermatological diseases, the therapeutic arsenal against itching is limited. From neurophysiological experiments, using a new technique termed cutaneous field stimulation, it is known that acute itch can be effectively relieved by stimulation of cutaneous nociceptors.


METHODS
We tested the effects of cutaneous field stimulation (25 min, 16 electrodes, 4 Hz per electrode, up to 0.8 mA) on chronic itch due to atopic dermatitis. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (100 Hz, up to 26 mA) was used for comparison. In 27 patients, itch was measured just prior to, during and at regular intervals up to 12 h after either type of treatment.


RESULTS
Both treatments augmented the itch sensation during ongoing stimulation, presumably reflecting an altered sensory processing in the somatosensory pathways of chronic itch patients. However, after cessation of cutaneous field stimulation, but not transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, the itch sensation was significantly depressed for up to 7 h. The peak inhibitory effect (about 25% of control) was reached between 1 and 5 h poststimulation. Neither treatment had any significant effect on alloknesis, as measured before and 10 min after stimulation.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that cutaneous field stimulation strongly depresses chronic itch, and is a potentially useful symptomatic treatment of itch.
Nilsson
H-J
HJ
Section for Neurophysiology, Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Lund, BMC-F10, Tornavägen 10, S-221 84 Lund, Sweden.
Psouni
E
E
Carstam
R
R
Schouenborg
J
J
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D011537:Pruritus / Q000628:therapy*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation