Medicines (Jan 2020)

Association between Prurigo Nodularis and Etiologies of Peripheral Neuropathy: Suggesting a Role for Neural Dysregulation in Pathogenesis

  • John-Douglas Matthew Hughes,
  • Taylor E. Woo,
  • Micah Belzberg,
  • Raveena Khanna,
  • Kyle A. Williams,
  • Madan M. Kwatra,
  • Shahzeb Hassan,
  • Shawn G. Kwatra

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines7010004
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
p. 4

Abstract

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Background: Prurigo nodularis (PN) is an intensely pruritic skin condition of considerable morbidity. However, the pathogenesis of PN and its association with underlying neuropathy is unclear. Objective: We sought to investigate the association between PN and etiologies of peripheral neuropathy. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of adult patients (≥18-year-old) with PN, AD, and Psoriasis at the Johns Hopkins Health System over a six-year period (January 2013−January 2019) was performed. The strength of association with etiologies of peripheral neuropathy were compared to a control cohort of individuals without PN, as well as those with AD or psoriasis. Results: A total of 1122 patients with PN were compared to 10,390 AD patients, 15,056 patients with psoriasis, and a control cohort of 4,949,017 individuals without PN, with respect to 25 comorbidities associated with peripheral neuropathies. Limitations: Comparisons between peripheral neuropathies and PN represent associations but are not causal relationships. Conclusion: Prurigo nodularis is strongly associated with peripheral neuropathies, suggesting a role for neural dysregulation in pathogenesis.

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