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Antipruritic effects of transient heat stimulation on histaminergic and nonhistaminergic itch
- Source :
- Riccio, D, Andersen, H H & Arendt-Nielsen, L 2019, ' Antipruritic effects of transient heat-stimulation on histaminergic and non-histaminergic itch ', British Journal of Dermatology, vol. 181, no. 4, pp. 786-795 . https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.17825
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- Oxford University Press (OUP), 2019.
-
Abstract
- Background: Chronic itch is notoriously difficult to treat. Counterstimuli are able to inhibit itch, but this principle is difficult to apply in clinical practice, and the mechanisms behind counterstimulation-induced itch suppression in humans are unclear. Objectives: Firstly, to analyse the stimulus–response effects of transient heat stimuli on histaminergic and nonhistaminergic itch, and secondly, to investigate whether the antipruritic effect depends on homotopic (peripheral mediation) or heterotopic (central mediation) counterstimulation relative to the itch provocation site. Methods: Eighteen healthy volunteers participated (eight female, mean age 25·7 ± 0·8 years). Itch was evoked on premarked areas of the volar forearms, by either histamine (1% solution) or cowhage (35–40 spicules). In addition to the itch provocations (experiment 1), 5-s homotopic heat stimuli at 32, 40, 45 or 50 °C were applied. In experiment 2, heat stimuli were applied either homotopically, intrasegmentally (next to the provocation site) or extrasegmentally (dorsal forearm). Itch intensity was evaluated throughout the procedures using a digital visual analogue scale. Results: Homotopic counterstimuli inhibited histaminergic itch by 41·3% at 45 °C (P < 0·01) and by 76·7% at 50 °C (P < 0·001). Cowhage-induced itch was less prone to counterstimulation and was significantly diminished only at 50 °C, by 43·6% (P = 0·009). Counterstimulations applied heterotopically were not able to inhibit itch significantly. Conclusions: Itch pathway-specific effects of counterstimuli were observed between homo- and heterotopic stimulation. Histaminergic itch was robustly inhibited by short-term homotopic noxious heat stimuli for up to 10 min. Nonhistaminergic itch was only weakly inhibited. The inhibitory effects exerted by the short-term heat stimuli only occurred following homotopic counterstimulation.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
Hot Temperature
Visual Analog Scale
Provocation test
Stimulation
Dermatology
Pharmacology
Inhibitory postsynaptic potential
Young Adult
030207 dermatology & venereal diseases
03 medical and health sciences
chemistry.chemical_compound
0302 clinical medicine
parasitic diseases
otorhinolaryngologic diseases
medicine
Humans
skin and connective tissue diseases
Antipruritic
business.industry
Pruritus
Antipruritic Effect
Histaminergic
Mucuna
Healthy Volunteers
eye diseases
Peripheral
Treatment Outcome
chemistry
Chronic Disease
Female
business
Histamine
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 13652133 and 00070963
- Volume :
- 181
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- British Journal of Dermatology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....c15ab88f00da3d6440654f539edcc358