Treatment of pruritic diseases with topical calcineurin inhibitors

Ständer, Sonja; Schürmeyer-Horst, Funda; Luger, Thomas A.; Weißhaar, Elke

doi:10.2147/tcrm.2006.2.2.213

Cited by 78 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In addition, they may also be beneficial treatments for pruritus associated with contact dermatitis and SD [135]. Side effects include burning and stinging sensations.…”

Section: Topical Treatmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic Pruritus in the Elderly: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Management

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Chronic itch in the elderly is a common problem, with a significant impact on quality of life and sleep in elderly patients. Chronic itch may be attributable to several causes, including dry skin, immunosenescence and neural degeneration. Itch may also be caused by skin diseases, such as seborrhoeic dermatitis and stasis dermatitis; systemic conditions, such as end-stage renal disease and diabetes; and psychogenic conditions, such as depression and anxiety. The use of polypharmacy may also cause itch, with or without a rash. Specifically, thiazides and calcium channel blockers have been known to cause itch in elderly patients. Management should be tailored according to the underlying dermatological or systemic aetiology of itch. Topical treatment is the mainstay of therapy, providing special emphasis on skin hydration and barrier repair. In addition, topical and oral medications that target the nervous system and reduce neuronal hypersensitization, such as gabapentin and selective antidepressants, have a role in treating patients with severe chronic itch. Furthermore, management must account for changes in metabolism and pharmacokinetics of drugs in the aging population in order to prevent the occurrence of adverse effects.

show abstract

“…In addition, they may also be beneficial treatments for pruritus associated with contact dermatitis and SD [135]. Side effects include burning and stinging sensations.…”

Section: Topical Treatmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic Pruritus in the Elderly: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Management

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The development of the topical calcineurin inhibitor pimecrolimus has led to considerable improvement in the treatment of atopic dermatitis [4], and there was a marked amelioration of pruritus as well [4,5,6]. There are also case reports on the antipruritic efficacy of pimecrolimus treatment in a series of itchy dermatoses (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are also case reports on the antipruritic efficacy of pimecrolimus treatment in a series of itchy dermatoses (e.g. chronic irritative hand dermatitis, lichen sclerosus), including PN [6,7]. Pimecrolimus and tacrolimus are assumed to have, like capsaicin, an antipruritic effect by virtue of their influence on sensory cutaneous neurons and the phosphorylation of transient receptor potential subtype vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor [8,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the Antipruritic Effects of Topical Pimecrolimus in Non-Atopic Prurigo Nodularis: Results of a Randomized, Hydrocortisone-Controlled, Double-Blind Phase II Trial

Siepmann¹,

Lotts²,

Blome

et al. 2013

Dermatology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: In the treatment of atopic dermatitis, pimecrolimus has high antipruritic effects. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of 1% pimecrolimus cream in comparison to 1% hydrocortisone cream in non-atopic prurigo nodularis (PN). Methods: A randomized, controlled, double-blind study with intraindividual randomization was done in 30 patients (17 females, 13 males; mean age 58.5 years) with PN. Results: Pruritus intensity decreased significantly (p < 0.001) on both treated sides as early as after 10 days of treatment; scratch lesions improved (p < 0.001). Quality of life as assessed by the Dermatology Life Quality Index improved significantly. However, a significant advantage of pimecrolimus over hydrocortisone was not found. Conclusion: The results suggest that the non-steroid pimecrolimus is an effective alternative for PN treatment.

show abstract

“…Studies have also shown that TCIs can be successful in treating graft-versus-host disease, lichen planus, lichen sclerosis and prurigo nodularis (Ständer et al 2006b). The mechanism of action of these agents in reducing itch is unclear and possibly multifactorial.…”

Section: Topical Calcineurin Inhibitorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Topical and Systemic Therapies for Itch

Leslie

Greaves

Yosipovitch

2015

Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Itch is a common distressing symptom which may be caused by multifactorial aetiologies including inflammatory skin diseases, systemic diseases, neuropathic conditions and psychogenic disorders. Itch is a term used synonymously with pruritus and is defined as acute if it lasts less than 6 weeks or chronic if it persists for more than 6 weeks. It can have the same impact on the quality of life as chronic pain and shares many of the same pathophysiological pathways. Depending on the aetiology of the itch, different pathogenic mechanisms have been postulated with a number of mediators identified. These include histamine, leukotrienes, proteases, neuropeptides, cytokines and opioids, which may activate peripheral itch-mediating C-fibres via receptors on the nerve terminals and central neuronal pathways. Therefore, there is no single universally effective anti-itch treatment available. First-line treatments for itch include topical therapies, such as emollients, mild cleansers (low pH), topical anaesthetics, steroids, calcineurin inhibitors and coolants (menthol). Treatment with systemic therapies can vary according to the aetiology of the chronic itch. Non-sedating antihistamines are helpful in conditions such as urticaria where the itch is primarily histamine mediated. Although the itch of eczema is not mediated by histamine, sedating antihistamines at night are helpful to break the itch-scratch cycle. Chronic itch may also be treated with other systemic therapies, such as anticonvulsants, antidepressants as well as mu-opioid antagonists, kappa-opioid agonists and phototherapy, depending on the cause of the itch. This article summarises the topical and systemic therapies available with our current understanding of the pathophysiology of itch.

show abstract

Treatment of pruritic diseases with topical calcineurin inhibitors

Cited by 78 publications

References 24 publications

Chronic Pruritus in the Elderly: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Management

Chronic Pruritus in the Elderly: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Management

Evaluation of the Antipruritic Effects of Topical Pimecrolimus in Non-Atopic Prurigo Nodularis: Results of a Randomized, Hydrocortisone-Controlled, Double-Blind Phase II Trial

Current Topical and Systemic Therapies for Itch

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About