title: Vulvar pruritus and burning sensation in women with psoriasis.
abstract: Approximately 80% of psoriatic individuals experience pruritus, of varying intensity. This study evaluated the frequency of vulvar itching and burning and its influence on well-being in women with psoriasis. A total of 93 women were included in the study. Psoriasis severity was assessed according to the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, the intensity of vulvar discomfort by visual analogue scale and depressive symptoms by Beck's Depression Inventory. On admission 41 (44.1%) women experienced vulvar discomfort, 18 (19.4%) itching, 10 (10.8%) burning and 13 (14.0%) both itching and burning sensations. Psoriatic lesions on the vulva were found in 22 (23.7%) women. No significant correlation was found between burning or itching intensity and global psoriasis severity (r = 0.19, p = 0.26). Patients with vulvar discomfort had psoriatic lesions on the vulva more often than women without discomfort (43.6% vs. 8.2%, p < 0.001). In addition, patients with vulvar discomfort more frequently demonstrated depressive symptoms (p < 0.05). We conclude that vulvar discomfort is an important clinical problem in women with psoriasis and should be taken into consideration during treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wrocłav Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zamirska
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berny-Moreno
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.forename: Jacek C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Szepietowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000150:complications; D011539:Pruritus Vulvae / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index