Characteristics of Pruritus in Various Clinical Variants of Psoriasis: Results of the Multinational, Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Study
Kamila Jaworecka,
Dominika Kwiatkowska,
Luiza Marek,
Funda Tamer,
Aleksandra Stefaniak,
Magdalena Szczegielniak,
Joanna Chojnacka-Purpurowicz,
Monika Matławska,
Ayla Gulekon,
Jacek C. Szepietowski,
Joanna Narbutt,
Agnieszka Owczarczyk-Saczonek,
Adam Reich
Affiliations
Kamila Jaworecka
Department of Dermatology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-055 Rzeszów, Poland
Dominika Kwiatkowska
Department of Dermatology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-055 Rzeszów, Poland
Luiza Marek
Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Funda Tamer
Department of Dermatology, Gazi University School of Medicine, 06560 Ankara, Turkey
Aleksandra Stefaniak
Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, Poland
Magdalena Szczegielniak
Department of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology and Oncology, Lodz Medical University, 91-347 Łódź, Poland
Joanna Chojnacka-Purpurowicz
Department and Clinic of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-959 Olsztyn, Poland
Monika Matławska
Department and Clinic of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-959 Olsztyn, Poland
Ayla Gulekon
Department of Dermatology, Gazi University School of Medicine, 06560 Ankara, Turkey
Jacek C. Szepietowski
Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, Poland
Joanna Narbutt
Department of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology and Oncology, Lodz Medical University, 91-347 Łódź, Poland
Agnieszka Owczarczyk-Saczonek
Department and Clinic of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-959 Olsztyn, Poland
Adam Reich
Department of Dermatology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-055 Rzeszów, Poland
Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease present in about 3% of the world’s population. The clinical symptoms manifest diversely, therefore one can distinguish several subtypes of psoriasis. The majority of patients with psoriasis experience pruritus, which is an unpleasant sensation that decreases patients’ quality of life. The knowledge on pruritus in different subtypes of psoriasis is limited. We have performed a cross-sectional, prospective, and multicenter study to evaluate the relationship between clinical subtypes of psoriasis (large-plaque, nummular, guttate, palmoplantar, inverse, erythrodermic, palmoplantar pustular, generalized pustular psoriasis, and psoriasis of the scalp) and the prevalence, intensity, and clinical manifestation of itch. We introduced a questionnaire assessing various aspects of pruritus to a total of 254 patients. Out of these, 42 were excluded. Pruritus was present in 92.9% of the remaining patients and its prevalence did not depend on the clinical subtype. A correlation between the severity of psoriasis and the intensity of itch was explicitly noticeable in palmoplantar pustular psoriasis and scalp psoriasis (p < 0.05). The itch sensation was individual and differed among subtypes of psoriasis. In conclusion, pruritus is a frequent phenomenon, and its presentation is different in various subtypes of psoriasis.
