title: Chronic pruritus.
abstract: Chronic pruritus is one of the most frequent complaints of the skin associated with a high disease burden and markedly impaired quality of life. Chronic pruritus (>6 weeks of duration) may occur in a broad variety of diseases including dermatological, systemic, neurological, psychosomatic/psychiatric and gynaecological ones and in every age group (children, adults, pregnant women, elderly patients). The medical care of patients with chronic pruritus has improved significantly in the past few years (14). Though research into the neurobiology of chronic pruritus has failed to resolve the mechanisms underlying this disease, it has led to the awareness that management of patients with chronic pruritus needs a separate strategy that is different from therapy of the underlying disease. The antipruritic therapy is still based on symptomatic regimens and target-specific therapies urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Competence Center Chronic Pruritus, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany. sonja.staender@uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ständer
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Grundmann
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D005544:Forecasting; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D011537:Pruritus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000150:complications; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists