Neuropathic Itch

Excerpt

Dermatologists are increasingly aware that some cases of unexplained chronic itch are caused by underlying neurological disease, and some now seek neurological care for these patients, but few neurologists feel prepared to help. This overview is intended both to guide clinicians and to suggest research topics. A PubMed search referencing the terms “neuropathic itch” plus “neuropathic pruritus” on December 22, 2012, yielded only 101 primary and review citations. Other relevant papers are not retrieved by these search terms as they may not even contain the words “itch” or “pruritus,” but instead refer to “distressing sensory symptoms” or to self-injurious scratching (often by other names, e.g., “trigeminal tropic syndrome”). The fragmented literature attests to the current rudimentary state of awareness about neuropathic itch.