INformation for specialists
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PRURIGO NODULARIS
rurigo nodularis (PN) begins due to chronic pruritus. This entity presents a great diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. As a result, the affected patients often have a remarkable story to tell about their illness.
Many questions about the pathogenesis of PN have yet to be answered, but current findings and studies provide hope that a better understanding of this disease will be within reach in the not so distant future. |
PRIMARY DERMATOSES CARRYING THE NAME “PRURIGO”
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CLINICAL DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION
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CLINICAL HISTORY OF PRURIGO NODULARIS
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Prurigo nodularis was first described in 1909 by J.N. Hyde. The term “prurigo” has since been associated with pruritus and even primary dermatoses, and remains in use today in modern dermatological nomenclature, also for primary dermatoses. For this reason, there is no current single standard use of the term and a lack of clinical delineation of the various diseases designated “prurigo”. The term “prurigo” is used in connection with scratch-induced skin lesions as well as primary dermatoses.
Prurigo nodularis has begun receiving more attention from the global scientific community and clinical examinations are currently underway. Nevertheless, knowledge of prurigo nodularis, its effects and the scientific community’s understanding of it remain insufficient. Studies have shown in the past that cutaneous neuronal and immune mechanisms play a role. An increased quantity of mast cells, T cells and eosinophil granulocytes seem to be present in the skin, provoking an increased discharge of nerve growth factor (NGF). This is linked with a neuronal hyperplasia of sensory nerve fibers that are involved with the genesis of pruritus.
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Many etiological and pathogenetic aspects of PN remain unclear, but it always appears in the form of itchy papules or nodules. Prurigo nodularis is always a result of chronic itch and:
A multitude of dermatoses and systemic diseases resulting in prurigo nodularis include:
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