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Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors
04:59

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Published on: September 27, 2019

Neuropathic itch.

Anne Louise Oaklander1

  • 1Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. aoaklander@partners.org

Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery
|July 20, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Neurological conditions can cause chronic itch by affecting itch-sensing neurons. Identifying and treating these underlying neurological causes is crucial for managing persistent, unexplained itching.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Dermatology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Chronic itch can stem from neuronal dysfunction, leading to sensory hallucinations.
  • The precise cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neuropathic itch remain largely unknown.
  • Neurological disorders are increasingly implicated in cases of otherwise unexplained pruritus.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the neurological underpinnings of chronic itch.
  • To highlight the connection between neuropathic pain and neuropathic itch.
  • To discuss the challenges and current recommendations for treating neuropathic itch.

Main Methods:

  • Review of neurological conditions associated with itch, including neuropathic pain etiologies.
  • Analysis of central nervous system lesions affecting sensory pathways.
  • Examination of clinical presentations and treatment strategies for neuropathic itch.

Main Results:

  • Neurological diseases, such as shingles, small-fiber polyneuropathies, and central nervous system lesions, can cause neuropathic itch.
  • Neuropathic itch can lead to significant scratching, self-injury, and is often resistant to conventional treatments.
  • Trigeminal nerve involvement can result in facial itch (trigeminal trophic syndrome).

Conclusions:

  • Neurological causes should be considered in patients with chronic, unexplained itch.
  • Effective treatments for neuropathic itch are limited, often requiring inhibitors of neuronal excitability and measures to prevent scratching.
  • Further research into the mechanisms of neuropathic itch is needed to develop targeted therapies.