title: Plasma neuropeptides and perception of pruritus in psoriasis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of selected neuropeptides on itching in psoriatic individuals. Fifty-nine patients (43 pruritic and 16 non-pruritic) with psoriasis were included in the study. The severity of psoriasis, measured using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scale, ranged between 2 and 43.7 points. The intensity of pruritus was evaluated using a Visual Analogue Scale. The plasma levels of substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide and neuropeptide Y were measured radioimmunologically. The plasma level of neuropeptide Y was significantly decreased in patients with pruritus compared with those without pruritus (21.6 +/- 39.6 pg/ml and 144.3 +/- 385.7 pg/ml, respectively; p=0.03). Levels of other neuropeptides did not differ significantly between pruritic and non-pruritic patients; however, a tendency to lower plasma levels of substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide in patients with itching was noted. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was observed between pruritus severity and levels of substance P (r = -0.36; p=0.02), as well as between pruritus severity and plasma levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (r = -0.34; p=0.03). The imbalance of neuropeptide activity in the sera of pruritic subjects may suggest a role for neuropeptides in perception of itching in psoriatic individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermato-Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland. adi_medicalis@go2.pl
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orda
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiśnicka
authors.forename: Jacek C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Szepietowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000097:blood*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000097:blood*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides