| 1. |
- Misery, Laurent, et al.
(author)
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Definition of sensitive skin : An expert position paper from the special interest group on sensitive skin of the international forum for the study of itch
- 2017
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In: Acta Dermato-Venereologica. - : Medical Journals Sweden AB. - 0001-5555. ; 97:1, s. 4-6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Sensitive skin is a frequent complaint in the general population, in patients, and among subjects suffering from itch. The International Forum for the Study of Itch (IFSI) decided to initiate a special interest group (SIG) on sensitive skin. Using the Delphi method, sensitive skin was defined as “A syndrome defined by the occurrence of unpleasant sensations (stinging, burning, pain, pruritus, and tingling sensations) in response to stimuli that normally should not provoke such sensations. These unpleasant sensations cannot be explained by lesions attributable to any skin disease. The skin can appear normal or be accompanied by erythema. Sensitive skin can affect all body locations, especially the face”. This paper summarizes the background, unresolved aspects of sensitive skin and the process of developing this definition.
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| 2. |
- Ofenloch, Robert F., et al.
(author)
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Cross-Cultural Validation of the Quality of Life in Hand Eczema Questionnaire (QOLHEQ)
- 2017
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In: Journal of Investigative Dermatology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-202X. ; 137:7, s. 1454-1460
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Quality of Life in Hand Eczema Questionnaire (QOLHEQ) is the only instrument assessing disease-specific health-related quality of life in patients with hand eczema. It is available in eight language versions. In this study we assessed if the items of different language versions of the QOLHEQ yield comparable values across countries. An international multicenter study was conducted with participating centers in Finland, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, Sweden, and Turkey. Methods of item response theory were applied to each subscale to assess differential item functioning for items among countries. Overall, 662 hand eczema patients were recruited into the study. Single items were removed or split according to the item response theory model by country to resolve differential item functioning. After this adjustment, none of the four subscales of the QOLHEQ showed significant misfit to the item response theory model (P < 0.01), and a Person Separation Index of greater than 0.7 showed good internal consistency for each subscale. By adapting the scoring of the QOLHEQ using the methods of item response theory, it was possible to obtain QOLHEQ values that are comparable across countries. Cross-cultural variations in the interpretation of single items were resolved. The QOLHEQ is now ready to be used in international studies assessing the health-related quality of life impact of hand eczema.
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| 3. |
- Pereira, Manuel P, et al.
(author)
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Chronic Nodular Prurigo : A European Cross-sectional Study of Patient Perspectives on Therapeutic Goals and Satisfaction
- 2021
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In: Acta Dermato-Venereologica. - : Medical Journals Sweden AB. - 1651-2057. ; 101
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chronic nodular prurigo is characterized by recalcitrant itch. Patient perspectives on therapeutic goals, satisfaction with therapy and efficacy of therapeutic regimens for this condition are unknown. This questionnaire study examined these issues in 406 patients with chronic nodular prurigo from 15 European dermatological centres. Improvements in itch, skin lesions and sleep were the most important goals. Emollients, topical corticosteroids and antihistamines were the most frequently used treatments, while a minority of patients were prescribed potent medications, such as systemic immunosuppressants and gabapentinoids. Most patients were not satisfied with their previous therapy (56.8%), while 9.8% did not receive any therapy despite having active disease. A substantial number of respondents (28.7%) considered none of the therapeutic options effective. Although chronic nodular prurigo is a severe disease, most patients were not treated with potent systemic drugs, which may contribute to the high levels of dissatisfaction and disbelief in available therapies. Specific guidelines for chronic nodular prurigo and the development of novel therapies are necessary to improve care.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Staender, Sonja, et al.
(author)
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Clinical classification of itch: a position paper of the international forum for the study of itch
- 2007
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In: Acta Dermato-Venereologica. - : Medical Journals Sweden AB. - 1651-2057 .- 0001-5555. ; 87:4, s. 291-294
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chronic itch is a common and distressing symptom that arises from a variety of skin conditions and systemic diseases. Despite this, there is no clinically based classification of pruritic diseases to assist in the diagnosis and cost-effective medical care of patients with pruritus. The proposed classification focuses on clinical signs and distinguishes between diseases with and without primary or secondary skin lesions. Three groups of conditions are proposed: pruritus on diseased (inflamed) skin (group I), pruritus on non-diseased (non-inflamed) skin (group II), and pruritus presenting with severe chronic secondary scratch lesions, such as prurigo nodularis (group III). The next part classifies the underlying diseases according to different categories: dermatological diseases, systemic diseases including diseases of pregnancy and drug-induced pruritus, neurological and psychiatric diseases. In some patients more than one cause may account for pruritus (category "mixed") while in others no underlying disease can be identified (category "others"). This is the first version of a clinical classification worked out by the members of the International Forum for the Study of Itch. It is intended to serve as a diagnostic route for better evaluation of patients with chronic pruritus and aims to improve patients' care.
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| 6. |
- Ständer, Sonja, et al.
(author)
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IFSI-Guideline on Chronic Prurigo including Prurigo nodularis.
- 2020
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In: ITCH. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 2380-5048. ; 5:4, s. 1-13
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chronic prurigo (CPG) is a highly burdensome pruritic disease characterized by chronic itch, a prolonged scratching behavior and the development of localized or generalized hyperkeratotic pruriginous lesions. Neuronal sensitization and the development of an itch-scratch cycle contribute to the augmentation of pruritus and the chronicity of the disease. We provide here the first international guideline for a rational diagnostic and therapeutic approach for CPG. Recommendations are based on available evidence and expert opinion. The diagnosis of CPG is made clinically. A detailed medical history together with laboratory and radiological examinations are advised in order to determine the severity of CPG, identify the underlying origin of the itch and assist in the elaboration of a treatment plan. Therapeutically, it is advised to adopt a multimodal approach, including general strategies to control itch, treatment of the underlying pruritic conditions, and of the pruriginous lesions. Topical (corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, capsaicin) and systemic antipruritic agents (eg, gabapentinoids, immunosuppressants, and opioid modulators) as well as physical treatment modalities (phototherapy, cryotherapy) should be employed in a step-wise approach. Psychosomatic or psychological interventions may be recommended in CPG patients with signs of psychiatric/psychological comorbidities.
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| 7. |
- Theodosiou, Grigorios, et al.
(author)
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Prevalence of Itch in German Schoolchildren : A Population-based Study
- 2022
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In: Acta Dermato-Venereologica. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0001-5555 .- 1651-2057. ; 102
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Itch is a common symptom, but there is limited evidence on the prevalence of itch in children. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of itch in schoolchildren. A questionnaire was developed by experts in the field and based on a literature search. The questionnaire was applied in a pilot study of 25 consecutively selected paediatric patients and their parents. It confirmed the high content validity of the questionnaire, and the questionnaire was comparable to hospital records regarding chronic itch (n = 19, mean consistency 89.47%). The questionnaire was distributed among German schoolchildren in 9/12 randomly selected primary schools in Kiel, Germany. Of 1,722 invited students, 443 schoolchildren aged 6-10 years participated, and 26.2% (n = 116) reported itch. The prevalence of acute itch was 20.0% (n = 87), and 14.7% (n = 65) reported chronic itch. Reduced sleep and mood were often related to chronic itch. This study demonstrated that itch is a common symptom in German schoolchildren.
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| 8. |
- von Kobyletzki, Laura B., et al.
(author)
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What Factors are Important to Patients when Assessing Treatment Response : An International Cross-sectional Survey
- 2017
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In: Acta Dermato-Venereologica. - : Acta dermato-venereologica. - 0001-5555 .- 1651-2057. ; 97:1, s. 86-90
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study investigated the perspective of international patients on individual symptoms of atopic dermatitis (eczema) in determining treatment response. A questionnaire was developed to evaluate the importance of symptoms from the patient's perspective. Patients were asked: "How important are these features in deciding whether or not a treatment is working?", and rated symptoms on a 5-point Likert scale. Patients were approached via Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema (HOME) collaborators and self-selected to take part in the on-line survey. Patients from 34 countries (n = 1,111) completed the survey; of these, 423 (38.3%) were parents of children with eczema. Ten items were rated as being "quite important" or "very important" by more than 80% of the respondents: itch, pain/soreness, skin feels hot or inflamed, bleeding, involvement of visible or sensitive body sites, cracks, sleep difficulties, amount of body affected, and weeping/oozing. These results may be of use in determining the face validity of scales from a cross-cultural patients' perspective.
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