Download PDF
J Brachial Plex Peripher Nerve Inj 2009; 04(01): e3-e6
DOI: 10.1186/1749-7221-4-21
Letter to the Editor
Wallengren; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Self-healing photo-neuropathy and cervical spinal arthrosis in four sisters with brachioradial pruritus[*]

Joanna Wallengren
1   Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
› Author Affiliations
Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

14 September 2009

17 November 2009

Publication Date:
18 September 2014 (online)

   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The cause of brachioradial pruritus (a localized itching on the arms or shoulders) is controversial. The role of sun and cervical spine disease has been discussed. This is a report on four sisters suffering from brachioradial pruritus recurring every summer. The sisters spent much time outdoors and exposed themselves extensively to the sun. They also had occupations requiring heavy lifting. Cervical radiographs indicated arthrosis. The density of sensory nerve fibers in the skin biopsies from the itchy skin of the arms, visualized by antibodies against a pan-neuronal marker, protein gene product 9.5, was reduced compared with biopsies from the same skin region during the symptom-free period in the winter. This data exemplifies that brachioradial pruritus is a self healing photoneuropathy occurring in middle aged adults predisposed by cervical arthrosis.

*This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


 

  • References

  • 1 Waisman M. Solar pruritus of the elbows (Brachioradial summer pruritus). Arch Dermatol 1968; 98: 481-485 10.1001/archderm.98.5.481 5684218
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Walcyk PJ, Elpern DJ. Brachioradial pruritus: a tropical dermopathy. Br J Dermatol 1986; 115: 177-180 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1986.tb05714.x 3741783
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Goodless DR, Eaglstein WH. Brachioradial pruritus: treatment with topical capsaicin. J Am Acad Dermatol 1993; 29: 783-784 10.1016/S0190-9622(08)81703-3 8227554
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Stellon A. Neurogenic pruritus: An unrecognised problem? A retrospective case series of treatment by acupuncture. Acupunct Med 2002; 20: 186-190 10.1136/aim.20.4.186 12512793
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Kestenbaum TY, Kalivas J. Solar pruritus. Arch Dermatol 1979; 115: 1368 10.1001/archderm.115.11.1368 507894
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Bech-Thomsen N, Thomsen K. Solar pruritus. Acta Derm Venereol 1995; 75: 488-489 8651032
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Wallengren J. Brachioradial pruritus: a reccurrent solar dermopathy. J Am Acad Dermatol 1998; 39: 803-806 10.1016/S0190-9622(98)70058-1 9810902
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Veien NK, Hattel T, Laurberg G, Spaun E. Brachioradial pruritus. J Am Acad Dermatol 2000; 44: 704-705 10.1067/mjd.2001.112912
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Wallengren J, Sundler F. Cutaneous field stimulation (CFS) in treatment of severe localized itch. Arch Dermatol 2001; 137: 1323-1325 11594856
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Heyl T. Brachioradial pruritus. Arch Dermatol 1983; 119: 115-116 10.1001/archderm.119.2.115 6824345
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Goodkin R, Wingard E, Bernhard JD. Brachioradial pruritus: cervical spine disease and neurogenic/neuropathic pruritus. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003; 48: 521-524 10.1067/mjd.2003.203 12664013
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Wallengren J, Dahlbäck K. Familial brachioradial pruritus. Br J Dermatol 2005; 153 (5) 1016-8 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2005.06795.x 16225616
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Wallengren J, Chen D, Sundler F. Neuropeptide-containing C-fibres and wound healing in rat skin. Neither capsaicin nor peripheral neurotomy affect the rate of healing. Br J Dermatol. 1999; 140 (3) 400-408 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1999.02699.x 10233257
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Wallengren J, Sundler F. Brachioradial pruritus is associated with a reduction of cutaneous inervation which normalizes during the symptom-free remissions. J Am Acad Dermatol 2005; 52: 142-145 10.1016/j.jaad.2004.09.030 15627097
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Wallengren J, Sundler F. Phototherapy induces loss of epidermal and dermal nerve fibers. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 2004; 84: 111-115 10.1080/00015550310022899
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Friedenberg ZB, Miller WT. Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. A comparative study of asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1963; 45: 1171-1178 14077981
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Fisher DA. Brachioradial pruritus wanted: a sure cause (and cure) for brachioradial pruritus. Int J Dermatol 1997; 36: 817-818 10.1046/j.1365-4362.1997.00354.x 9427072
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Kavak A, Dosoglu M. Can a spinal cord tumor cause brachioradial pruritus. J Am Acad Dermatol 2002; 46: 437-440 10.1067/mjd.2002.113674 11862184
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Schürmeyer-Horst F, Fischbach R, Nabavi D, Metze D, Ständer S. Brachioradial pruritus: a rare, localized, neuropathic form of itching. Hautarzt 2006; 57 (6) 523-527 10.1007/s00105-005-0939-0 15776282
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Crevits L. Brachioradial pruritus–a peculiar neuropathic disorder. Clinical Neurol Neurosurg 2006; 108: 803-805 10.1016/j.clineuro.2005.12.001
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Wallengren J. Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of itch. Dermatol Ther 2005; 18: 292-303 16297000
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar