Rachel Elizabeth Ward1, Vindhya Lakshmi Veerula2, Navid Ezra2, Jeffrey B Travers3, Nico Mousdicas2. 1. Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana. Electronic address: wardr@iupui.edu. 2. Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana. 3. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio; Department of Dermatology, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic itch is a disruptive and disabling condition that can lead to psychological stress and depression. OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe an entity of generalized, symmetric, neuropathic pruritus, which we term "multilevel symmetric neuropathic pruritus," and offer possible explanations accounting for its pathogenesis. METHODS: A case series of 14 patients was evaluated at academic institutions from 2011 to 2015. RESULTS: All patients exhibited detectable degenerative vertebral changes, as seen by spinal x-ray or magnetic resonance imaging. In 12 of 14 (85.7%) subjects, the radiographic imaging abnormalities directly correlated with the distribution of their cutaneous findings. Twelve of 14 (85.7%) patients had cutaneous findings along the C5 to C6 and/or C6 to C7 dermatomal distributions. Eleven of 14 (78.5%) patients were overweight or obese, and 14 of 14 (100%) patients had at least 4 risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis. Twelve of 14 (85.7%) patients noted complete or near complete resolution after treatment with gabapentin (300-1200 mg daily). LIMITATIONS: No healthy age-matched control group without pruritus was investigated. CONCLUSION: A combination of multilevel degenerative disc disease of the spine, spinal nerve root impingement, and/or nerve root traction may play a pivotal role in the cause of multilevel symmetric neuropathic pruritus.
BACKGROUND:Chronic itch is a disruptive and disabling condition that can lead to psychological stress and depression. OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe an entity of generalized, symmetric, neuropathic pruritus, which we term "multilevel symmetric neuropathic pruritus," and offer possible explanations accounting for its pathogenesis. METHODS: A case series of 14 patients was evaluated at academic institutions from 2011 to 2015. RESULTS: All patients exhibited detectable degenerative vertebral changes, as seen by spinal x-ray or magnetic resonance imaging. In 12 of 14 (85.7%) subjects, the radiographic imaging abnormalities directly correlated with the distribution of their cutaneous findings. Twelve of 14 (85.7%) patients had cutaneous findings along the C5 to C6 and/or C6 to C7 dermatomal distributions. Eleven of 14 (78.5%) patients were overweight or obese, and 14 of 14 (100%) patients had at least 4 risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis. Twelve of 14 (85.7%) patients noted complete or near complete resolution after treatment with gabapentin (300-1200 mg daily). LIMITATIONS: No healthy age-matched control group without pruritus was investigated. CONCLUSION: A combination of multilevel degenerative disc disease of the spine, spinal nerve root impingement, and/or nerve root traction may play a pivotal role in the cause of multilevel symmetric neuropathic pruritus.