Abstract
One of the main obstacles to research of itch and anti-itch therapeutics is the lack of objective methods for the measurement of itch. When an animal scratches, we do not know that this indicates itch. Since itch cannot be defined in animals, in assessing anti-itch substances we have to rely on human subjects who can describe their sensations. Clinical studies, however, are hampered by the varied and subjective nature of itch and the difficulties of quantifying it. What we need are accurate, non-invasive methods to quantify itch, as well as experimental models of itch induction that can aid us in avoiding subjectivity and variability in studies carried out on patients and volunteers.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Hagermark O (1995) Itch meidators. Semin Dermatol 14:271-275
Shelly WB, Arthur A (1955) Studies on Cowhage (Mucuna pruriens) and its prurito-genic proteinase, mucunian. Arch Dermatol 72:399-406
Hagermark O, Wahlgren CF (1992) Some methods for evaluating clinical itch and their application for studying pathophysiological mechanisms. J Dermatol Sci 4:55-62
Simone D, Ngeow J, Whitehouse J, Becerra-Cabal L, Putterman GJ, LaMotte R (1987) The magnitude and duration of itch produced by intracutaneous injections of hista-mine. Somatosens Res 2:81-92
Simone D, Alreja M, LaMotte RH (1991) Psychophysical studies of the itch sensation and itchy skin (allokenesis) produced by intracutaneous injection of histamine. Somatosens Mot Res 8:271-279
Heyer GH, Hornstein OP, Handwerker HO (1989) Skin reactions and itch sensation induced by epicutaneous histamine application in atopic dermatitis and controls. J Invest Dermatol 93:492-496
Wahlgren CF (1995) Measurement of itch. Semin Dermatol 14:277-284
Yosipovitch G, Szolar C, Hui XY, Maibach HI (1996) High-potency topical corticosteroid rapidly decreases histamine induced itch but not thermal sensation and pain in human beings. J Am Acad Dermatol 35:118-120
Yosipovitch G, Szolar C, Hui XY, Maibach HI (1996) Effect of topically applied menthol on thermal, pain and itch sensations and biophysical properties of the skin. Arch Dermatol 288:245-248
Yosipovitch G, Ademola J, Lui P, Amin S, Maibach H (1997) Topically applied aspirin rapidly decreases histamine induced itch. Acta Derm Venereol 77:46-48
Yosipovitch G, Maibach H (1997) The effect of topical pramoxine lotion on experimentally induced itch. J Am Acad Dermatol 37:278-280
Weisshaar E, Heyer G, Forster C, Hornstein OP, Handwerker HO (1996) Antipruritic effect of antihistaminic and local anesthetic topical agents after iontophoretic histamine stimulation. Hautarzt 47:355-360
Weisshaar E, Forster C, Dotzer M, Heyer G (1997) Experimentally induced pruritus and cutaneous reactions with topical antihistamine and local analgesics in atopic eczema. Skin Pharmacol 10:183-190
Yosipovitch G, Yarnitsky D (1998) Quantitative sensory testing. In: Marzulli F, Maibach H (eds) Dermatotoxicology methods. Taylor & Francis, Washington, pp 313-318
Yosipovitch G, Maibach HI (1998) Thermal sensory analyzer Boon to the study of C and A Delta fibers. Curr Probl Dermatol 26:84-89
Yarnitsky D, Sprecher E, Tamir A, Zaslansky R, Hemli JA (1994) Thermal testing: normative data and repeatability for various test algorithms. J Neurol Sci 125:39-45
Yosipovitch G, Maibach HI, Rowbotham M (1999) Effect of EMLA pretreatment on cap-saicin - induced burning and hyperalgesia. Acta Dermatol Venereol 79:118-121
Tuckett RP (1982) Itch evoked by electrical stimulation of the skin. J Invest Dermatol 79:368-371
Weinstein C, Drozdenko R, Weinstein S, Spivak H (1995) A new noninvasive method to evaluate the antipruritic efficacy of over-the-counter skin care products. J Soc Cosmetic Chem 46:53-65
Wahlgren CF, Ekblom A, Hagermark 0 (1989) Some aspects of the experimental induction and measurement of itch. Acta Derm Venereol 69:185-189
Wahlgren CF, Hagermark 0, Bergstrom R (1990) The antipruritic effects of a sedative and a non sedative anti-histamine in atopic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 122:545-551
Woodward DF, Nieves AL, Spada S, Williams LS, Tuckett RP (1995) Characterization of a behavioral model for peripherally evoked itch suggets platlet-activating factor as a potent pruritogen. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 272:758-765
Hsieh JC, Hagermark O, Stahle-Backdahl, Ericson K, Eriksson L, Stone-Elander S, Ing-var M (1994) Urge to scratch represented in the human cerebral cortex. J Neurophysiol 72:3004-3008
Handwerker HO, Forster C, Kirchhof C (1991) Discharge pattern of human C-fìbers induced by burning stimuli. J Neurophysiol 66:307-315
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2000 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Yosipovitch, G. (2000). Methodological Approaches for Testing Anti-itch and Related Substances. In: Gabard, B., Surber, C., Elsner, P., Treffel, P. (eds) Dermatopharmacology of Topical Preparations. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-57145-9_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-57145-9_15
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-62960-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-57145-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive