Recent Studies of Cutaneous Nociception in Atopic and Non‐Atopic Subjects
Authors: Heyer Gisela R. , Hornstein Otto P. 
Published: April 2015

Itching reflects a distinct quality of cutaneous nociception elicited by chemical or other stimuli to neuronal receptors at the superficial layers of the skin and muco‐cutaneous orifices. Although recent experimental studies of the conduction and perception of itch have yielded deeper insight into the physiology of this sensory quality, little is known about the neuromechanisms involved in pruritus accompanying many inflammatory skin diseases, in particular, in atopic eczema.

Previous case‐control studies of our research group with patients suffering from atopic eczema (AE) revealed significantly diminished itch perception after iontophoretic application of different doses of histamine as well as substance P (i.c. injected). Further experiments using acetylcholine (ACh, i.c.) clearly demonstrated that ACh elicits pruritus instead of pain in patients with AE. The first part of the present review deals with the results of our most recent case‐control studies on histamine‐induced itch perception in atopics devoid of eczema as well as in patients with urticaria or psoriasis compared to atopics with or without manifest eczema. We demonstrated that both focal itch and perifocal alloknesis (i.e., itch elicited by a slight mechanical, otherwise non‐itching stimulus) were significantly reduced in eczema‐free atopics yet were normal in non‐atopics suffering from urticaria or psoriasis.

In further studies using ACh i.c. injected into the uninvolved skin of patients with AE, lichen ruber, psoriasis, type IV contact eczema, or non‐specific nummular eczema (n=10/each group), all the atopics and 6/10 psoriatics felt itch instead of burning pain, but none of the others did. Different doses of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) i.e. applied to the controls and the atopics with or without eczema did not markedly increase the intensity of nociceptive sensations. However, ACh induced pain in the controls, pure pruritus in the atopics with acute eczema, and a ‘mixture’ of pain and itch in the atopics just free from eczema. Obviously, the quality of sensations evoked by ACh and VIP depends on the inflammatory or non‐inflammatory state of the atopic skin. In a placebo‐controlled, double blind study on histamine‐induced focal itch and alloknesis with healthy subjects (n=15) using naltrexone (opioid receptor antagonist) and cetirizine (H1‐blocking agent), naltrexone was found to significantly reduce both itching and alloknesis. Cetirizine reduced focal itch but failed to influence the alloknesis phenomenon. The wheal and flare reaction was suppressed only by cetirizine. These different effects point to a mainly CNS‐based activity of naltrexone but a peripheral level effect of cetirizine. Due to long‐lasting experience with group sport as a supporting adjuvant for inpatients with AE, we evaluated, by clinical, psychometric, and physiological studies, the therapeutic efficacy of controlled physical exercise in addition to otherwise equal anti‐eczematous therapy for both voluntary participants and non‐participants in sports by performing several case‐control studies, one followed‐up to 6 months after the patients' discharge from the hospital. Regular moderate exercises neither deteriorated nor impeded the recovery from AE, ameliorated the participants' scratch controlling ability and significantly their depressed emotional mood. The non‐participants failed to achieve these aims. Sweating‐induced itch was inhibited in almost all participants if simple skin care (clearing by warm shower, ointment) and short‐term rest were used by informed patients.

In conclusion, there are several indications that itching is elicited in individuals inclined to cutaneous atopy, regardless of their eczematous or just eczema‐free state, by a different physiological pathway from that in non‐atopic individuals. Therefore, antipruritic agents influencing the centrally altered nociception of atopics are needed and may be expected in near future. On the other hand, voluntary and moderate physical exercise may also provide a reasonable ‘remedy’ that improves the general psychosomatic condition of atopics and hence may prevent or rehabilitate them from manifest eczema.