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Neurology 2003;61:564-566
© 2003 American Academy of Neurology
Brief Communications

Active "itch fibers" in chronic pruritus

M. Schmelz, MD PhD, M. Hilliges, PhD, R. Schmidt, MD, K. Ørstavik, MD, C. Vahlquist, MD, C. Weidner, MD PhD, H. O. Handwerker, MD PhD and H. E. Torebjörk, MD PhD

From the Departments of Clinical Neurophysiology (Drs. Schmidt and Torebjörk) and Dermatology (Dr. Vahlquist), University of Uppsala, and Department of Basic Oral Sciences (Dr. Hilliges), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Physiology and Experimental Pathophysiology (Drs. Schmelz, Weidner, and Handwerker), University of Erlangen, and Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (Dr. Schmelz), Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany; and Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology (Dr. Ørstavik, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Norway.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. M. Schmelz, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; e-mail: schmelz{at}physiologie1.uni-erlangen.de

An itch-specific neuronal pathway was recently discovered in healthy humans and animals. Here the authors report that activity in this specific pathway coincides with itch under pathophysiologic conditions in a patient with chronic pruritus. Microneurographic recordings from the symptomatic area revealed spontaneous activity in six single C-fiber afferents that had the characteristic features of "itch fibers." Itch may be caused by activity in a specific subpopulation of C-fiber afferents.




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B. Namer, R. Carr, L. M. Johanek, M. Schmelz, H. O. Handwerker, and M. Ringkamp
Separate Peripheral Pathways for Pruritus in Man
J Neurophysiol, October 1, 2008; 100(4): 2062 - 2069.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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