title: Neuropathic pruritus (itch) in neuromyelitis optica.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuropathic pruritus (itch) is an uncommon, but well described, symptom in neurology. There are itch-specific neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. We noted excessive pruritus in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to explore the characteristics of pruritus in NMO patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed case records of a well-defined cohort of 45 serial aquaporin-4 antibody-positive patients visiting the national NMO service. All patients were interviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 45 antibody-positive NMO patients, 44 had myelitis and 12 of those 44 (27.3%) patients reported pruritus within a week of other symptoms of transverse myelitis with central cord involvement. In three patients, pruritus was the first symptom of a relapse, while in one case, pruritus was the very first symptom of the index episode of NMO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neuropathic pruritus seems to be a common, but under-recognised symptom of myelitis associated with NMO.
authors.affiliation: The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Liene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elsone
authors.forename: Tristan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Townsend
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mutch
authors.forename: Kumar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boggild
authors.forename: Turo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nurmikko
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jacob
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000150:complications*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies