This study was designed to test the hypothesis that nedocromil sodium inhibits sensory nerve function to reduce¯are and itch in human skin. Nedocromil sodium (2%) or water (control) was introduced into the volar forearm skin of eight non-atopic volunteers by iontophoresis (8 mC) and histamine (20 ml of 1 mM and 300 nM) injected intradermally 10 min later at the same site. Itch was assessed on a visual analogue scale every 20 s for 5 min. Weal and¯are areas and mean blood¯ux within the¯are were assessed by scanning laser Doppler imaging at 10 min. The results showed that nedocromil sodium reduced itch scores, totalled over 5 min, by *74.0% (P50.005) and¯are areas by *65% (P50.03). Neither weal areas nor blood¯ux within were reduced. These data demonstrate that nedocromil sodium is e ective in reducing neurogenic itch and¯are in the skin. We suggest that its mechanism of action is modulation of sensory neurone activation or conduction in the skin.
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