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Clinical characteristics of itch in cutaneous lupus erythematosus: A prospective, multicenter, multinational, cross-sectional study.
- Source :
-
Lupus [Lupus] 2021 Aug; Vol. 30 (9), pp. 1385-1393. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 May 18. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Objective: Pruritus is an important symptom frequently accompanying various inflammatory skin conditions and some recent data indicated that it may be associated with autoimmune connective tissue diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and clinical presentation of itch in CLE.<br />Methods: A multinational, prospective, cross-sectional study was performed to assess the prevalence, intensity and clinical characteristic of pruritus in various subtypes of CLE. A total of 153 patients with active CLE lesions were included. Their age ranged between 17 and 82 years (mean 49.8 ± 15.4 years), and 115 patients (75.2%) were women. The disease activity and damage were assessed according to the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI). Pruritus severity was assessed with Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the 12-Item Pruritus Severity Scale. Dermatology Life Quality Index and EQ-5D questionnaire were used to measure quality of life.<br />Results: Pruritus was present in 116 (76.8%) of patients of whom half had NRS scoring equal or above 4 points indicating moderate or severe pruritus. Most commonly itch was localized on the scalp, face (excluding ears and nose) and arms (40.5%, 36.2%, 31.9%, respectively). Sensations connected with pruritus were most frequently described as burning, tingling and like ants crawling feeling, but 31.9% patients described it as "pure itch". More than half of patients reported that pruritus was present every day, and it was most frequent during the evenings. The pruritus scoring and the CLASI activity score were significantly correlated (r = 0.42, p = 0.0001), while no correlation was found with the CLASI damage score (p = 0.16). Both the maximum and average itch intensity were correlated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) activity measured with the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index.<br />Conclusions: Pruritus is a common, but frequently overlooked symptom of CLE. Its intensity correlates with the activity of CLE, but not with the skin damage. In more than a half of patients it occurs on a daily basis. The correlation between the intensity of pruritus and the activity of the skin lesions and the systemic involvement indicate that pruritus could be an individual indicator of both SLE and CLE activity.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life
Severity of Illness Index
Young Adult
Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous complications
Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous epidemiology
Pruritus diagnosis
Pruritus epidemiology
Pruritus etiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1477-0962
- Volume :
- 30
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Lupus
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34000879
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/09612033211016098