title: Retrospective study of intraepidermal nerve fiber distribution in biopsies of patients with nummular eczema.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nummular eczema is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by pruritus and histologically characterized by spongiosis. The etiology is unknown, and the lesions frequently arise spontaneously. Neuropeptides contribute to mediating and maintaining eczematous conditions. Previous research indicates that the number of immunoreactive nerve fibers is increased in pruritic skin lesions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine if the number of immunoreactive nerve fibers is increased in nummular eczema, as in other inflammatory pruritic conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 22 biopsies of nummular eczema and was compared with immunohistochemical expression of 8 skin biopsies uninvolved by nummular eczema.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nerve fiber distribution using PGP 9.5 stain showed that there was significantly reduced PGP9.5 stain amount in the epidermis of patients with nummular eczema compared with their respective healthy control (P = 0.0054). However, no statistical difference was seen in the papillary dermis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pruritus of nummular eczema is not associated with an increase of epidermal nerve fiber density and sprouting.
authors.affiliation: Colworth Discover, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maddison
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sangueza
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yosipovitch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D004485:Eczema / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C482860:UCHL1 protein, human; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase