When its not just an itch…. - MM3 Admin · When its not just an itch…. SARAH KARABUS ALLSA...
Transcript of When its not just an itch…. - MM3 Admin · When its not just an itch…. SARAH KARABUS ALLSA...
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When its not just an
itch….SARAH KARABUS
ALLSA 2017, PORT ELIZABETH
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Welcome to Port Elizabeth!
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Pruritis
From Latin meaning itching
It is a symptom, not a specific disease entity
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Definition
An unpleasant sensation on the skin or mucous membranes which
one instinctively tries to relieve by scratching
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Pruritis
Numerous causes
Numerous treatments
Can be trivial
Can be life-threatening
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Pruritis
Numerous causes
Numerous treatments
Can be trivial
Can be life-threatening
Has a huge impact on quality of life
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Pathophysiology
Neurologic pathways of itch not fully understood
Signal stimulated by a variety of neuronal mediators on sensory nerve endings in epidermis and dermal-epidermal junction
Possible itch mediators: histamine, proteases, opioids, substance P,
gastrin releasing peptide, nerve growth factor, interleukins,
prostaglandins, cathepsins
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Pathophysiology
• Signal transmission occurs along the unmyelinated
peripheral C-nerve fibres (both histamine and non-
histamine sensitive fibres)
• C-nerve fibres synapse with secondary neurons
that cross over to the contralateral spinothalamic
tract to thalamus.
• From thalamus to cerebral cortex where multiple
areas in the brain are activated including those
involved in emotion as well as sensory and motor
function
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Pathophysiology
Scratching inhibits pruritis by stimulating inhibitory neurons and pain
receptors
Release endogenous opiates that inhibit itch
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Evaluation of the itchy patient
Itch with primary skin lesions
Itch with primary systemic disease
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Case 1
16yr old
Itchy skin for a few weeks
Couldn’t sleep
G.P. diagnosed eczema
But, no response to topical corticosteroids and oral antihistamines
Examination: no rash, not pale, dry skin, generalised
lymphadenopathy, no HSM
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Case 1
16yr old
Itchy skin for a few weeks
Couldn’t sleep
G.P. diagnosed eczema
But, no response to topical corticosteroids and oral antihistamines
Examination: no rash, not pale, dry skin, generalised
lymphadenopathy, no HSM
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Case 1
Further history: intermittent fever and myalgia
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Case 1
Further history: intermittent fever and myalgia
Biopsy: lymphoma
Referred to oncologist
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Case 2
10 year old girl referred by G.P. with uncontrolled eczema
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Case 2
Epileptic
Started on carbamazepine 4 weeks prior
Examination: unwell, fever 38.8, pale, facial oedema, slightly jaundiced,
lymphadenopathy, respiratory distress and poor perfusion
Skin: generalised erythema, dry, itchy and flaking – exfoliative dermatitis
Bloods: lymphocytosis, eosinophilia, ↑ LFTs, ↑ ESR
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Case 2
Epileptic
Started on carbamazepine 4 weeks prior
Examination: unwell, fever 38.8, pale, facial oedema, slightly jaundiced,
lymphadenopathy, respiratory distress and poor perfusion
Skin: generalised erythema, dry, itchy and flaking – exfoliative dermatitis
Bloods: lymphocytosis, eosinophilia, ↑ LFTs, ↑ ESR
DRESS (drug reaction, eosinophilia and systemic symptoms)
Admit ICU
Systemic steroids, protracted course in ICU
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Case 2
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Case 3
14 year old girl referred by G.P.
Unwell for 2 weeks
Intermittent fever and myalgia
Generalised, itchy rash
Examination: generalised maculopapular rash, scratching
uncontrollably
Not pale, not jaundiced, +generalised lymphadenopathy, RUQ
tenderness
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Case 3
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Case 3
Bloods
CRP 30
↑ LFT
↑ INR
↑ ESR
Lymphocytosis, eosinophilia
Infectious disease/autoimmune work up negative
Biopsy
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Case 3
Bloods
CRP 30
↑ LFT
↑ INR
↑ ESR
Lymphocytosis, eosinophilia
Infectious disease/autoimmune work up negative
Biopsy: DRESS
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Pruritis
Don’t forget….
10 - 50% of patients with a generalised itch, with no rash, have a systemic disease
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Evaluation of the itchy patient
Itch with primary skin lesions
Itch with primary systemic disease
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Itch with skin lesions
Atopic dermatitis
Bullous pemphigoid
Contact dermatitis
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Dermatophyte infection
Folliculitis
Lice
Lichen planus
Lichen simplex chronicus
Psoriasis
Scabies
Sunburn
Urticaria
Xerosis
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Itch with skin lesions
Atopic dermatitis
Bullous pemphigoid
Contact dermatitis
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Dermatophyte infection
Folliculitis
Lice
Lichen planus
Lichen simplex chronicus
Psoriasis
Scabies
Sunburn
Urticaria
Xerosis
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Itch with skin lesions
Atopic dermatitis
Bullous pemphigoid
Contact dermatitis
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Dermatophyte infection
Folliculitis
Lice
Lichen planus
Lichen simplex chronicus
Psoriasis
Scabies
Sunburn
Urticaria
Xerosis
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Itch with skin lesions
Atopic dermatitis
Bullous pemphigoid
Contact dermatitis
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Dermatophyte infection
Folliculitis
Lice
Lichen planus
Lichen simplex chronicus
Psoriasis
Scabies
Sunburn
Urticaria
Xerosis
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Itch with skin lesions
Atopic dermatitis
Bullous pemphigoid
Contact dermatitis
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Dermatophyte infection
Folliculitis
Lice
Lichen planus
Lichen simplex chronicus
Psoriasis
Scabies
Sunburn
Urticaria
Xerosis
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Itch with skin lesions
Atopic dermatitis
Bullous pemphigoid
Contact dermatitis
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Dermatophyte infection
Folliculitis
Lice
Lichen planus
Lichen simplex chronicus
Psoriasis
Scabies
Sunburn
Urticaria
Xerosis
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Itch with skin lesions
Atopic dermatitis
Bullous pemphigoid
Contact dermatitis
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Dermatophyte infection
Folliculitis
Lice
Lichen planus
Lichen simplex chronicus
Psoriasis
Scabies
Sunburn
Urticaria
Xerosis
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Itch with skin lesions
Atopic dermatitis
Bullous pemphigoid
Contact dermatitis
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Dermatophyte infection
Folliculitis
Lice
Lichen planus
Lichen simplex chronicus
Psoriasis
Scabies
Sunburn
Urticaria
Xerosis
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Itch with skin lesions
Atopic dermatitis
Bullous pemphigoid
Contact dermatitis
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Dermatophyte infection
Folliculitis
Lice
Lichen planus
Lichen simplex chronicus
Psoriasis
Scabies
Sunburn
Urticaria
Xerosis
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Itch with skin lesions
Atopic dermatitis
Bullous pemphigoid
Contact dermatitis
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Dermatophyte infection
Folliculitis
Lice
Lichen planus
Lichen simplex chronicus
Psoriasis
Scabies
Sunburn
Urticaria
Xerosis
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Itch with skin lesions
Atopic dermatitis
Bullous pemphigoid
Contact dermatitis
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Dermatophyte infection
Folliculitis
Lice
Lichen planus
Lichen simplex chronicus
Psoriasis
Scabies
Sunburn
Urticaria
Xerosis
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Itch with skin lesions
Atopic dermatitis
Bullous pemphigoid
Contact dermatitis
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Dermatophyte infection
Folliculitis
Lice
Lichen planus
Lichen simplex chronicus
Psoriasis
Scabies
Sunburn
Urticaria
Xerosis
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Itch with skin lesions
Atopic dermatitis
Bullous pemphigoid
Contact dermatitis
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Dermatophyte infection
Folliculitis
Lice
Lichen planus
Lichen simplex chronicus
Psoriasis
Scabies
Sunburn
Urticaria
Xerosis = DRY SKIN
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Itch with systemic disease
Autoimmune
Haematologic
Hepatobiliary
Infectious diseases
Malignancy
Metabolic/endocrine
Neurologic/neuropathic
Other – drug ingestion, pregnancy, neuropsychiatric, anorexia
nervosa
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Itch with systemic disease
Autoimmune – dermatomyositis, linear IgA disease, Sjogren’s
Haematologic – haemachromatosis, mastocytosis, PCV, plasma cell
dyscrasias, anaemia
Hepatobiliary – biliary cirrhosis, sclerosing cholangitis, chronic pancreatitis,
drug induced cholestasis, hepatitis C
Infectious diseases – HIV, prion disease, hepatitis, parasitic diseases (giardia,
ascaris, onchocerciasis)
Malignancy – leukaemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, solid tumours with
paraneoplastic syndr
Metabolic/endocrine – CRF, carcinoid syndrome, hyper/hypothyroidism,
hyperparathyroidism
Neurologic – stroke, tumour, MS
Other – drug ingestion, pregnancy, neuropsychiatric, anorexia nervosa
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Chronic renal disease and itch
Uremic pruritis remains one of the most frustrating and debilitating
symptoms in patients with end-stage renal disease.
50% of patients with CRF itch
Up to 80% of patients on dialysis itch
Generalised itch, sometimes localised to the back
Difficult to treat
Rx: cholestyramine, activated charcoal, thalidomide, ondansetron,
UVB, erythropoietin, renal transplant
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Liver disease and itch
Itch is the presenting symptom of primary biliary cirrhosis in 50% of
patients
It occurs at some point in almost 100% of patients
Begins in an acral distribution (palms and soles) which is uncommon
for other causes of itch
Becomes generalised
Rx: cholestyramine, rifampicin, naloxone, propofol, odansetron
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Malignancy and itch
Most common malignancies associated with itch:
Hodgkin lymphoma – itch can precede diagnosis by 5yrs
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides)
Polycythema vera – aquagenic pruritis in up to 70%, may precede
diagnosis by years
Leukaemias (CLL)
Plasma cell tumours
Gastric carcinoid tumours
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Malignancy and itch
Most common malignancies associated with itch:
Hodgkin lymphoma – itch can precede diagnosis by 5yrs
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides)
Polycythema vera – aquagenic pruritis in up to 70%, may precede
diagnosis by years
Leukaemias (CLL)
Plasma cell tumours
Gastric carcinoid tumours
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Malignancy and itch
Most common malignancies associated with itch:
Hodgkin lymphoma – itch can precede diagnosis by 5yrs
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides)
Polycythema vera – aquagenic pruritis in up to 70%, may precede
diagnosis by years
Leukaemias (CLL)
Plasma cell tumours
Gastric carcinoid tumours
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HIV and itch
Itch may occur secondary to the skin and systemic disorders that
are frequent in HIV infected individuals
But can also be the presenting symptoms of HIV infection itself
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Drugs and itch
Many different mechanisms
Drug-induced xerosis – doxycycline, retinoids, phototoxicity
Drug side-effects – opiates, anti-neoplastic agents
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Neuropathic itch
Brachioradial pruritis
Notalgia paresthetica
Post herpetic neuralgia
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Neuropathic itch
Brachioradial pruritis
Notalgia paresthetica
Post herpetic neuralgia
Itchy, burning, stinging of dorsolateral forearms
?Neuropathy of small C-fibres/nerve impingement C5-C8
Altered sensation to temperature and pinprick
Rx : cooling, antidepressants, capsaicin, topical anaesth/ketamine,
mx of C-spine disease if present
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Neuropathic itch
Brachioradial pruritis
Notalgia paresthetica
Post herpetic neuralgia
Unilateral, infrascapular
Burning, tingling, itchy area with dysesthesia
Often associated cervico-musculoskeletal disease, neck spasm
Rx: topical steroids, capsaicin, local anaesthetic, physio, traction,
surgery if associated spinal abnormality
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Neuropathic itch
Brachioradial pruritis
Notalgia paresthetica
Post herpetic neuralgia
Unilateral, infrascapular
Burning, tingling, itchy area with dysesthesia
Often associated cervico-musculoskeletal disease, neck spasm
Rx: topical steroids, capsaicin, local anaesthetic, physio, traction,
surgery if associated spinal abnormality
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Neuropathic itch
Brachioradial pruritis
Notalgia paresthetica
Post herpetic neuralgia
Unilateral, infrascapular
Burning, tingling, itchy area with dysesthesia
Often associated cervico-musculoskeletal disease, neck spasm
Rx: topical steroids, capsaicin, local anaesthetic, physio, traction,
surgery if associated spinal abnormality
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Neuropathic itch
Brachioradial pruritis
Notalgia paresthetica
Post herpetic neuralgia
Unilateral, infrascapular
Burning, tingling, itchy area with dysesthesia
Often associated cervico-musculoskeletal disease, neck spasm
Rx: topical steroids, capsaicin, local anaesthetic, physio, traction,
surgery if associated spinal abnormality
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Other neurological causes of itch
Multiple sclerosis
Psychogenic itch – associated with anxiety, stress, mood disorders –patients pick and scratch excessively
Delusional parasitosis (Morgellan’s disease) – false belief that he/she
is suffering from a parasitic infection
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Of course….
Psychological factors may affect severity of itch of any cause.
Like yawning, scratching may be “contagious” causing one to feel the urge to scratch after seeing another person scratch.
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Why is itching contagious?
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Patient evaluation
The majority will have a primary skin lesion that explains the
symptoms
If the cause of the skin changes is not obvious, a biopsy should be
performed
When there is no primary skin lesion….
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History
Detailed history: thyroid, liver, renal, HIV disease, malignancy
Presence of constitutional symptoms: fever, weight loss, night sweats
Travel history
Psychiatric and substance abuse history
Pruritis in other family members
Localised or generalised
Any relationship with occupation?
Any exposures to chemicals, solvents , plants, cosmetics, fragrances?
Does it wake patient at night?
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Investigations
If the cause of the itch remains undiagnosed and the patient has not
responded to antipruritic therapy
FBC and differential
Fe
LFTs
TSH
U&E
CXR
HIV
Appropriate malignancy screening tests
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Management
Treat the cause
Treat the co-morbidities
Treat the itch
Time, sympathy and understanding…
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General anti-itch measures
Skin moisturisation - emollients
Cool the skin – cool environment, light-weight clothes, cooling lotions
Avoid skin irritants – wool, harsh cleansing products
Stress reduction
Physical interventions – occlusion, wraps, cut nails
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Specific treatments for itch
Topical
Systemic
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Topical therapy for itch
Topical corticosteroids
Topical calcineuron inhibitors
Doxepin (tricyclic/antihistamine)
Menthol, calamine - cooling
Capsaicin cream – neuropathic itch
Salicylic acid – lichen simplex chronicus
Local anaesthetic – neuropathic itch
Don’t use topical antihistamines or anaesthetics long term – sensitiseand cause contact dermatitis
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Systemic therapy for itch
Antihistamines – urticaria and mastocytosis (but not much else)
Antidepressants – cholestatic itch, psychiatric, paraneoplastic
Doxepin
Opioid receptor antagonists – cholestatic, CRF
Anticonvulsants – gabapentin – neuropathic itch and renal failure
Thalidomide – prurigo nodularis
Phototherapy – renal, atopic eczema, psoriasis, cutaneous T-cell
lymphoma
Cognitive behavioural therapy
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Hot off the press….
Xeljanz (Tofacitinib)
JAK 1 inhibitor for rheumatoid arthritis
80% improvement in itch (Cell, Sept 8. in press)
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