Density of mast cells and intensity of pruritus in psoriasis vulgaris: a cross sectional study
An. bras. dermatol
;
93(3): 368-372, May-June 2018. tab, graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-949901
ABSTRACT
Abstract BACKGROUND:
Psoriasis is a chronic and prevalent disease, and the associated pruritus is a common, difficult-to-control symptom. The mediators involved in psoriatic pruritus have not been fully established.OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate associations between the number of mast cells in psoriatic lesions and the intensity of pruritus.METHODS:
29 patients with plaque psoriasis were recruited. In all participants, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and Body Surface Area were assessed. A questionnaire was administered to obtain clinical information and the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Pruritus was assessed using a visual analog scale and skin biopsies were performed for staining with Giemsa and Immunohistochemistry with C-Kit.RESULTS:
Pruritus was observed in 91.3% of our patients. Median VAS was 6 (p25-75 2-8). The immunohistochemical method revealed a mean of 11.32 mast cells/field and Giemsa staining revealed a mean of 6.72 mast cells/field. There was no correlation between the intensity of pruritus and mast cell count, neither in Immunohistochemistry (p = 0.15; rho = -0.27) nor in Giemsa (p = 0.16; rho = -0.27). Pruritus did not impact on the Dermatology Life Quality Index (p = 0.51; rho = -0.13). STUDYLIMITATIONS:
The small sample size may be considered the main limitation of our study.CONCLUSIONS:
Although mast cells are mediators of pruritus in many cutaneous diseases, our findings support that psoriatic pruritus is a complex disorder with multifactorial, complex pathophysiology, involving pruritogenic mediators others than mast cells.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Pruritus
/
Psoriasis
/
Skin
/
Mast Cells
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
An. bras. dermatol
Journal subject:
Dermatology
Year:
2018
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Clinic of Dermatology Pargendler/BR
/
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul/BR
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