Brachioradial pruritus: a tropical dermopathy

Abstract

Data on 42 patients with brachioradial pruritus seen in Hawaii over a 2-year period are presented. In contrast to previous reports, the sex ratio was 1:1 with a preponderance of patients in the younger age groups. All patients had developed the disorder after having lived in Hawaii for at least one year. More than half the cases had no history of neck trauma or arthritis, ruling out a peripheral neuropathy as the cause. Radiographs of 15 patients showed changes only in the patients in the older, arthritis-age groups. Brachioradial pruritus appears to be peculiar to the tropics.

Brachioradial pruritus is associated with a reduction in cutaneous innervation that normalizes during the symptom-free remissions

“…[1][2][3] However, this treatment induces short-term full remission in two thirds of patients and a longterm improvement is achieved in only a quarter of patients. [2][3] Additionally some patients suffer from side effects which prevent them from using this drug. For this reason it was important to look for an alternative treatment for severe CIU.…”

Neurogenic Pruritus: An Unrecognised Problem? A Retrospective Case Series of Treatment by Acupuncture

“…The pruritus is thought to be due to a sensory neuropathy but its exact pathogenesis remains illunderstood. [2][3][4][5][6] The prevalence of the condition has never been determined but certain reports suggest it is a rare occurrence. Acupuncture has been used to treat skin conditions, 7 but only one study has looked at treating pruritus as a symptom in this manner.…”

Brachioradialer Pruritus

“…Gepaart mit der Beobachtung eines saisonalen Auftretens des Pruritus zwischen Juli und November [20] führte dies anfänglich zu dem Namen "solarer Pruritus" oder "recurrent solar dermopathy [20,12]. In diesem Zusammenhang wurden immer wieder Patienten beschrieben, die in den Tropen oder Subtropen leben oder viele Outdoor-Freizeitaktivitäten wahrnehmen [20,10,19]. Der linksseitig auftretende brachioradiale Pruritus wurde dem fensterseitigen Armauflegen beim Autofahren zugeordnet, was jedoch den rechtsseitigen brachio radialen Pruritus nicht erklärt.…”