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Neuroselective transcutaneous electrical stimulation reveals neuronal sensitization in atopic dermatitis
Maki Ozawa1, Kenichiro Tsuchiyama, Rumiko Gomi
1Department of Dermatology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Background:
The neuroselective transcutaneous electrical stimulator (NTES) can provoke itch and/or pain by the application of a 5-Hz alternating current.
Objective:
We sought to examine whether there is any difference in the perception of the stimulus evoked by the NTES between patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and healthy control subjects.
Methods:
In all, 24 healthy control subjects and 24 patients with AD (nonlesional skin) were stimulated on 7 body sites using the NTES. Qualitative differences in the evoked perceptions and quantitative differences in the current intensity required to evoke perception were statistically analyzed.
Results:
The NTES preferentially evoked itch in patients with AD. The current perception threshold was statistically lower in AD than in healthy control subjects on 3 body sites.
Limitations:
Tests were performed on limited body areas.
Conclusion:
We demonstrated that the NTES can reveal neuronal sensitization to itch in nonlesional atopic skin.
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