Biomaterial Database

Histamine-induced itch and alloknesis (itchy skin) in atopic eczema patients and controls. 1995

G Heyer, and F J Ulmer, and J Schmitz, and H O Handwerker

Department of Dermatology, University of Erlangen/Nürnberg, Germany.

Alloknesis ("itchy skin") after histamine iontophoresis was studied together with itch sensations and skin reactions in 19 atopic eczema patients and 20 controls at the forearm and at the scapular area. Compared to controls, atopic eczema patients showed significantly reduced alloknesis or total lack of it in the area around a skin site to which histamine had been iontophoretically applied, although histamine elicited itching in most patients. As previously demonstrated, patients with atopic eczema also developed significantly smaller flares. However, covariance analysis revealed that the smaller alloknesis areas in atopic patients were not statistically related to the smaller flares. Our results suggest that in atopic eczema a diminished responsiveness of primary afferent nerves to histamine is not compensated by a higher central nervous sensitivity reflected in more vivid alloknesis responses to histamine. Therefore, we conclude that histamine is probably not the key factor of the spontaneous itch experienced by patients with atopic eczema.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007271	Injections, Intradermal	The forcing into the skin of liquid medication, nutrient, or other fluid through a hollow needle, piercing the top skin layer.	Intradermal Injections,Injection, Intradermal,Intradermal Injection
D007478	Iontophoresis	Therapeutic introduction of ions of soluble salts into tissues by means of electric current. In medical literature it is commonly used to indicate the process of increasing the penetration of drugs into surface tissues by the application of electric current. It has nothing to do with ION EXCHANGE; AIR IONIZATION nor PHONOPHORESIS, none of which requires current.	Iontophoreses
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009475	Neurons, Afferent	Neurons which conduct NERVE IMPULSES to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Afferent Neurons,Afferent Neuron,Neuron, Afferent
D011537	Pruritus	An intense itching sensation that produces the urge to rub or scratch the skin to obtain relief.	Itching,Pruritis
D003080	Cold Temperature	An absence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably below an accustomed norm.	Cold,Cold Temperatures,Temperature, Cold,Temperatures, Cold
D003876	Dermatitis, Atopic	A chronic inflammatory genetically determined disease of the skin marked by increased ability to form reagin (IgE), with increased susceptibility to allergic rhinitis and asthma, and hereditary disposition to a lowered threshold for pruritus. It is manifested by lichenification, excoriation, and crusting, mainly on the flexural surfaces of the elbow and knee. In infants it is known as infantile eczema.	Eczema, Atopic,Eczema, Infantile,Neurodermatitis, Atopic,Neurodermatitis, Disseminated,Atopic Dermatitis,Atopic Eczema,Atopic Neurodermatitis,Disseminated Neurodermatitis,Infantile Eczema
D005260	Female		Females
D005542	Forearm	Part of the upper extremity in humans and primates extending from the ELBOW to the WRIST.	Antebrachium,Antebrachiums,Forearms