Mediators of inflammation, such as reactive nitrogen and PGE(2), and keratinocyte proliferation are critical for the tissue regenerative processes. The ability of ELF-EMF to upmodulate NOS activities, thus nitrogen intermediates, as well as cell proliferation, and to downregulate COX-2 expression and the downstream intermediate PGE(2), highlights the potential therapeutic role of ELF-EMF in wound healing processes.
Vitiligo is a common skin disease characterized by depigmented maculae resulting from a reduction of the number and function of melanocytes. Many studies suggest that vitiligo might be an autoimmune disease. Vitiligo has been frequently described in association with other autoimmune diseases. Among the diseases described in association with vitiligo are the so-called autoimmune polyglandular syndromes (APS). Vitiligo can be present in all types of APS but the most frequent association appears to be in APS-3. APS-3 was defined as the association between autoimmune thyroiditis and another autoimmune disease. Here we report one patient with thyroiditis, vitiligo and autoimmune gastritis (APS-3B+C), one patient with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, vitiligo and alopecia (APS-3C), and one case of a young patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus and vitiligo (APS-4), according to the newest classification. We stress the importance of a thorough assessment for autoimmune diseases in selected patients with vitiligo.
Background
Psoriasis (Ps) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease associated with pruritus in 64–98% of patients. However, few modestly sized studies assess factors associated with psoriatic pruritus.
Objective
To investigate factors associated with Ps pruritus intensity.
Methods
Psoriasis patients 18 years or older seen in one of 155 centres in Italy between September 2005 and 2009 were identified from the Italian PsoCare registry. Patients without cutaneous psoriasis and those with missed information on pruritus were excluded.
Results
We identified 10 802 patients, with a mean age 48.8 ± 14.3 years. Mild itch was present in 33.2% of patients, moderate in 34.4%, severe in 18.7% and very severe in 13.7%. Higher itch intensity was associated with female gender, lower educational attainment compared to university degree, pustular psoriasis, psoriasis on the head, face, palmoplantar areas, folds and genitalia, more severe disease, disease duration <15 years, and no or few prior systemic treatments.
Limitations
Effects of specific medication on itch were not assessed.
Conclusions
Pruritus should be evaluated during psoriasis visits, and physicians should be aware of patients at higher risk for itch. Further studies are needed to assess the effects of medications on itch, and establish therapy for psoriasis patients with persistent itch.
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