European Prurigo Documentation (EPD Project)
Chronic prurigo (CPG) is a highly pruritic, chronic skin disease emerging in patients with chronic pruritus and prolonged scratching over a long period of time (Pereira et al. 2018). CPG is characterized by the presence of often symmetrically distributed, pruriginous papules, nodules or plaques (Pereira et al. 2018) According to the predominance of lesions, subtypes of CPG are defined as nodular (prurigo nodularis; PN), papular, plaque, linear and umbilicated prurigo (Pereira et al. 2020). In addition to the clinical type, the clinical presentation also varies in the number and location of the lesions and the presence of excoriations on top of the pruriginous lesions. Until now there is no uniform specific instrument for the objective assessment of the pruriginous lesions used among dermatologists in Europe. Likewise, there is no classification of the CPG's severity grading based on clinical presentation.
In addition, a large body of information on itch and associated sensory characteristics of CPG is missing. For example, there are no specific data of the distribution (e.g. itch in/around pruriginous lesions) and course if itch (e.g. regarding different pruriginous lesions) in patients with CPG. The patient’s view on leading and dominant complaints and their course is also unknown.
In addition, a large body of information on itch and associated sensory characteristics of CPG is missing. For example, there are no specific data of the distribution (e.g. itch in/around pruriginous lesions) and course if itch (e.g. regarding different pruriginous lesions) in patients with CPG. The patient’s view on leading and dominant complaints and their course is also unknown.
This project was designed to create, validate and implement an objective, physician-based standardized tool within Europe, to refine the classification criteria and define the severity levels of CPG. Other goals are to define diagnostic and monitoring items for CPG, to create a CPG specific, patient-based monitor instrument and to validate the newly developed ““Prurigo Control Test” in different languages.