Comparison of Characteristics of Neuropathic and Non-neuropathic Pruritus to Develop a Tool for the Diagnosis of Neuropathic Pruritus The NP5

Johanna Huguen (1) , Emilie Brenaut (1, 2) , Caroline-Jade Clerc (1) , Florence Poizeau (3, 4) , Pascale Marcorelles (2, 5) , Gaëlle Quereux (6) , Alain Dupuy (3, 4) , Laurent Misery (2, 1)

1 CHU - BREST - Hôpital de la Cavale Blanche - CHRU Brest
2 UBO - Université de Brest
3 CHU Pontchaillou [Rennes]
4 REPERES - Recherche en Pharmaco-épidémiologie et Recours aux Soins
5 CHU - BREST - Biologie pathologie - CHRU Brest, Pôle de Biologie Pathologie
6 CHU Nantes - Centre hospitalier universitaire de Nantes

The diagnosis of neuropathic pruritus (NP) may be difficult. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of both neuropathic pruritus and non-neuropathic pruritus (NNP) in order to elaborate a tool to help the diagnosis of NP without clinical examination. One hundred and seven patients were included Fifty three in the NP group and Fifty four in the NNP group. In multiple regression, presence of twinges, absence of burning, worsening with activity, no worsening with stress, and relief with cold ambient temperature were independent factors that were associated with NP. A score of two criteria out of five was optimal to discriminate NP from NNP with a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 77%. Alloknesis, hyperknesis, or the ice cube test were not included because their evaluation is based on clinical examination. Future high-powered studies are needed to confirm the results of the present study.

Keywords: neuropathic; pruritus; diagnosis; questionnaire; small fiber neuropathies

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]

Johanna Huguen, Emilie Brenaut, Caroline-Jade Clerc, Florence Poizeau, Pascale Marcorelles, et al.. Comparison of Characteristics of Neuropathic and Non-neuropathic Pruritus to Develop a Tool for the Diagnosis of Neuropathic Pruritus The NP5. Frontiers in Medicine, 2019, 6, pp.79. ⟨10.3389/fmed.2019.00079⟩. ⟨hal-02156251⟩