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Cutis 2021 Apr;107(4):221-222

Department of Dermatology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City.

Patients who present with multiple keratoacanthomas (KAs) associated with prurigo nodularis often pose a treatment challenge. These lesions often require aggressive treatment, such as Mohs micrographic surgery, surgical excision, electrodesiccation and curettage, intralesional steroid injection, and long-term acitretin. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) cream 5% has been shown to be effective; however, topical options are limited when 5-FU fails. Read More

Skin Therapy Lett 2021 May;26(3):5-8

Division of Dermatology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic, recalcitrant inflammatory skin condition characterized by the presence of pruritic nodules. The exact pathogenesis of the disease is unknown, although immune and neural dysregulation are indicated in driving the itchscratch cycle. Specifically, interleukin-4 and interleukin-31 pathways have been recently implicated in transmission of the pruritic sensation. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2021 May 28. Epub 2021 May 28.

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Baltimore, MD,; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Oncology, Baltimore, MD. Electronic address:

Background: Prurigo nodularis (PN) is an understudied, pruritic inflammatory skin disease. Little is known about the effect of PN on quality of life (QoL) and its associated economic burden.

Objective: To quantify QoL impact and economic implications of PN. Read More

Clin Exp Dermatol 2021 May 10. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Dermatology, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA.

Background: Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by intense pruritus, but information on patient experience and impact on quality of life (QoL) remains understudied.

Objective: To characterize disease characteristics and QoL in a global sample of PN patients.

Methods: An anonymous survey distributed via PN patient support groups. Read More

J Clin Med 2021 Apr 28;10(9). Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Independent Scholar, 1-19-20 Momochi, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0006, Japan.

Skin inflammation often evokes pruritus, which is the major subjective symptom in many inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis. Pruritus or itch is a specific sensation found only in the skin. Recent studies have stressed the pivotal role played by interleukin-31 (IL-31) in the sensation of pruritus. Read More

Int J Womens Dermatol 2020 Dec 30;6(5):384-389. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Department of Dermatology, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States.

Background: Prurigo of pregnancy (PP), a specific pregnancy dermatosis, has been associated with atopic background in the patient and/or the patient's family. However, this association was not validated in some studies, and cases without atopic background have been reported.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features of PP not related to atopic background and search for comorbid conditions in medical and obstetric records. Read More

Drugs 2021 Jun 21;81(8):895-905. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Department of Dermatology, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Cancer Research Building II Suite 206, 1550 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA.

Chronic pruritus is a debilitating symptom with limited treatment options. Identifying molecular targets underlying chronic pruritic dermatoses is essential for the development of novel, targeted therapies. IL-31 is an important mediator of itch by integrating dermatologic, neural, and immune systems. Read More

J Invest Dermatol 2021 Apr 3. Epub 2021 Apr 3.

Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Electronic address:

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2021 Apr 2. Epub 2021 Apr 2.

Department of Dermatology, AP-HP, Henri Mondor Hospital, Créteil, France.

Vaccines (Basel) 2021 Mar 23;9(3). Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Section of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy.

Pruritus is a common symptom of several skin diseases, both inflammatory and neoplastic. Pruritus might have a tremendous impact on patients' quality of life and strongly interfere with sleep, social, and work activities. We review the role of type-2 inflammation and immunity in the pathogenesis of chronic pruritic conditions of the skin. Read More

J Invest Dermatol 2021 Mar 23. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Electronic address:

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is an understudied, chronic inflammatory skin disease that disproportionately affects African Americans and presents with intensely pruritic nodules of unknown etiology. To better characterize the immune dysregulation in PN, PBMCs and skin biopsies were obtained from patients with PN and healthy subjects (majority African American) matched by age, race, and sex. Flow cytometric analysis of functional T-cell response comparing patients with PN with healthy subjects identified increased γδT cells (CD3CD4CD8γδTCR) and Vδ2 γδT enrichment. Read More

Expert Opin Biol Ther 2021 Mar 30:1-11. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.

Introduction: Dupilumab represents a breakthrough in the management of atopic dermatitis (AD), thanks to its powerful T-helper (Th)2-mediated immunity modulating activity. It can reduce the atopic skin molecular signature and induce a significant decrease in the clinical signs and symptoms of AD patients.

Areas Covered: Th2 activation has been confirmed or suspected in skin diseases other than AD, and several reports about the treatment with dupilumab in these conditions have been published. Read More

Clin Exp Dermatol 2021 Mar 24. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Background: Prurigo nodularis (PN) is associated with a variety of systemic comorbidities, including infectious diseases such as HIV and viral hepatitis. There are limited data on other infectious disease comorbidities in patients with PN.

Objective: To characterize infectious disease hospitalizations among patients with PN and the associated cost burden. Read More

Acta Derm Venereol 2021 Mar 31;101(3):adv00424. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 33136 Miami, FL, USA.

J Asthma Allergy 2021 4;14:175-178. Epub 2021 Mar 4.

Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is an intense pruritic skin condition. Treatment of PN is challenging. We described an elderly patient with PN who had contradictions of cyclosporine or methotrexate and achieved significant improvement after treatment with dupilumab. Read More

Actas Dermosifiliogr (Engl Ed) 2021 Mar 3. Epub 2021 Mar 3.

Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. Electronic address:

J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2021 Mar 3. Epub 2021 Mar 3.

Allergy Service. Hospital Universitario de Salamanca.

Recent advances in understanding T2 inflammation have broadened the diseases in which T2 inflammation can be involved. Dupilumab is a recently developed monoclonal antibody blocking the signaling of both IL-4 and IL13, two crucial cytokines of the T2 responses. New possible indications are increasingly exploring. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2021 10;8:639097. Epub 2021 Feb 10.

Department of Dermatology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Pruritus represents one of the most common symptoms in dermatology and general medicine. Chronic pruritus severely impairs the quality of life of affected patients. During the last two decades a number of modulators and mediator of pruritus have been identified. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2021 12;8:638325. Epub 2021 Feb 12.

Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

In recent years, the published literature has suggested the key involvement of the cytokine interleukin-31 (IL-31) in the symptomatology of pruritus, and both IL-31 and its receptor have become potential therapeutic targets for a range of pruritic diseases. Elevated levels of IL-31 or its receptor have been reported in the tissue or serum of patients with pruritic skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, prurigo nodularis, and psoriasis. Pruritus places a heavy burden on patients, and can have a negative impact on daily life, sleep, and mental health. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2021 Feb 19. Epub 2021 Feb 19.

Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, ON, Canada; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada. Electronic address:

J Cutan Pathol 2021 Jun 20;48(6):739-744. Epub 2020 Dec 20.

Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.

Background: The distinction between chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis (CNH) and hyperplastic actinic keratosis (HAK) on the ear can pose a diagnostic challenge. We aimed to identify histopathological characteristics that could distinguish between CNH and HAK on routine sections using penalized least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression analysis.

Methods: Cases of CNH (n = 80) and HAK (n = 28) were analyzed for selected histopathological characteristics. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2021 Feb 16. Epub 2021 Feb 16.

Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. Electronic address:

J Dermatolog Treat 2021 Feb 15:1-6. Epub 2021 Feb 15.

Dermatology & Venereology Department, Maggiore Hospital, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a debilitating chronic disease characterized by intense itching and excoriated hyperkeratotic nodules distributed on the trunk and extremities, especially the extensor surfaces. The pathophysiology includes complex and not yet well-understood mechanisms involving inflammation and dysregulation of the nervous system. Currently, there are no approved therapies by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the few treatment approaches for this condition are often ineffective and related to severe side effects. Read More

Eur J Dermatol 2021 Feb;31(1):104-106

Dermatology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Meyer Children's University Hospital, Viale Pieraccini 24, 50139, Florence, Italy.

Dermatol Ther 2021 03 17;34(2):e14855. Epub 2021 Feb 17.

Department of Dermatology, Regional Dermatology Training Center, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo), Moshi, Tanzania.

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic, benign neurodermatitis of unclear etiology characterized by excoriated, intensely pruritic nodules secondary to an intense itch-scratch cycle. PN treatment is still a challenge, and it is frustrating for both dermatologists and patients. The evidence for the effectiveness of a readily available treatment like cryotherapy is limited. Read More

Clin Exp Dermatol 2021 Mar 10;46(2):362-363. Epub 2020 Oct 10.

Lynde Dermatology, Markham, ON, Canada.

Exp Dermatol 2021 Jan 11. Epub 2021 Jan 11.

Miami Itch Center, Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA.

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic skin dermatosis with hyperkeratotic and intensely pruritic nodules. Managing PN-associated itch is difficult because its aetiology is still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between itch intensity in PN and the expression of a pruritogenic cytokine interleukin (IL)-31, its receptor complex components IL-31 receptor α (IL-31RA) and oncostatin M receptor β (OSMRβ), and oncostatin M (OSM), which is a ligand of OSMR β, through immunofluorescence staining examination. Read More

Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2020 30;13:1051-1058. Epub 2020 Dec 30.

Medical Department, Cantabria Labs Difa Cooper, Caronno Pertusella, VA, Italy.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of a cream containing purified omental lipids 10% and three anti-itching substances (polidocanol/stimutex/palmitoylethanolamine) in elderly subjects with chronic pruritus/prurigo nodularis (CP/CPN).

Patients And Methods: Thirty-five subjects (6 men; mean age 67±4 years) with CP/CPN were enrolled in a prospective, assessor-blinded, 4-week study. The cream was applied twice daily in the most affected body area. Read More

Case Rep Dermatol 2020 Sep-Dec;12(3):236-240. Epub 2020 Nov 17.

Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand.

Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic granulomatous infection that primarily affects the peripheral nerves and, consequently, the skin. Clinical manifestations vary from hypopigmentation to erythematous plaques, and it can present with leonine facies. We report a case of a patient with an uncommon clinical presentation of prurigo nodularis-like lesions without loss of sensation, for which two biopsy specimens demonstrated different histological subtypes. Read More

Pediatr Dermatol 2021 Mar 18;38(2):526-527. Epub 2020 Dec 18.

Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.

Epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa (EBP) is a variant of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa characterized by intense pruritus and prurigo nodularis-like lesions. While medical therapies for EBP exist, current treatments are not consistently effective, and symptoms often cause decreased quality of life. Here, we report two cases of EBP treated with dupilumab, which decreased symptoms of pruritus and improved skin findings. Read More