title: Pruritus and atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Atopic eczema is one of the most pruritic skin diseases. Mediators of atopic eczema itch in the skin are still mostly unknown, but recent studies showed that the histamine 4 receptor plays an important role in itch pathophysiology; tryptase and interleukin-31 are also involved. Differences in itch perception and itch kinetics between healthy volunteers and eczema patients point towards an ongoing central nervous inhibitory activity in patients. Questionnaire studies reported comparatively higher loads in affective items chosen by patients with atopic eczema. In the concept of patient management, the therapy of clinical pruritus has to consider origin and perception of itch, namely the skin and the central nervous system, by combining topical and systemic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany. ulf.darsow@lrz.tum.de
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Darsow
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pfab
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valet
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huss-Marp
authors.forename: Heidrun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Behrendt
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ring
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ständer
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010465:Perception; D011537:Pruritus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*