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Pharmacology of Itch

  • Book
  • © 2015

Overview

Editors:
  1. Alan Cowan

    1. Department of Pharmacology Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA

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    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  2. Gil Yosipovitch

    1. Department of Dermatology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadephia, USA

    View editor publications

    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • Provides insights into contemporary treatment regimens for pruritus in different human scenarios
  • Information on the multiple pathways for itch and their interactions with pain
  • Most recent results of research in the field

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology (HEP, volume 226)

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Table of contents (19 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-viii
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  2. Historical Background of Itch

    • Elke Weisshaar, Wolfgang U. Eckart, Jeffrey D. Bernhard
    Pages 1-14

  3. Pruritus Epidemiology and Quality of Life

    • Brittany Leader, Christopher W. Carr, Suephy C. Chen
    Pages 15-38

  4. Neurophysiology and Itch Pathways

    • Martin Schmelz
    Pages 39-55

  5. Neuroimaging of Itch as a Tool of Assessment of Chronic Itch and Its Management

    • Gil Yosipovitch, Hideki Mochizuki
    Pages 57-70

  6. The Role of the Mrgpr Receptor Family in Itch

    • Qin Liu, Xinzhong Dong
    Pages 71-88

  7. Transient Receptor Potential Channels and Itch: How Deep Should We Scratch?

    • Balázs I. Tóth, Arpad Szallasi, Tamás Bíró
    Pages 89-133

  8. Itch Control by Toll-Like Receptors

    • Sarah Taves, Ru-Rong Ji
    Pages 135-150

  9. Transmission of Pruriceptive Signals

    • Santosh K. Mishra, Mark A. Hoon
    Pages 151-162

  10. Role of Cytokines and Chemokines in Itch

    • Eoin R. Storan, Susan M. O’Gorman, Ian D. McDonald, Martin Steinhoff
    Pages 163-176

  11. Interactions Between Keratinocytes and Somatosensory Neurons in Itch

    • Jamie Schwendinger-Schreck, Sarah R. Wilson, Diana M. Bautista
    Pages 177-190

  12. Itch and Its Inhibition by Counter Stimuli

    • Lindsey M. Snyder, Sarah E. Ross
    Pages 191-206

  13. Noradrenergic Modulation of Itch Transmission in the Spinal Cord

    • Yasushi Kuraishi
    Pages 207-217

  14. Protease-Activated Receptors and Itch

    • Tasuku Akiyama, Ethan A. Lerner, E. Carstens
    Pages 219-235

  15. NK-1 Antagonists and Itch

    • Sonja Ständer, Thomas A. Luger
    Pages 237-255

  16. Antihistamines and Itch

    • Robin L. Thurmond, Kayvan Kazerouni, Sandra R. Chaplan, Andrew J. Greenspan
    Pages 257-290

  17. Targeting Itch with Ligands Selective for κ Opioid Receptors

    • Alan Cowan, George B. Kehner, Saadet Inan
    Pages 291-314

  18. Neuraxial Opioid-Induced Itch and Its Pharmacological Antagonism

    • Mei-Chuan Ko
    Pages 315-335

  19. Current Topical and Systemic Therapies for Itch

    • Tabi Anika Leslie, Malcolm W. Greaves, Gil Yosipovitch
    Pages 337-356

  20. Atopic Itch in Dogs: Pharmacology and Modeling

    • Thierry Olivry, Wolfgang Bäumer
    Pages 357-369
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Keywords

About this book

Basic research on the pharmacology of itch has exploded in the wake of two very influential papers that were published in Nature (2007) and Science (2009). Long overlooked as a milder form of pain, itching has rapidly gained a new appreciation in both research and clinical communities because of its complexity and its negative effects on the quality of life of the distressed patients. Like pain, not all itches are the same. Unlike pain, there are no standard drugs equivalent to aspirin and morphine. Epidemiological studies emphasize the high incidence and economic costs of itch (pruritus). It is the most prevalent symptom of a wide variety of allergic and inflammatory skin conditions (e.g., psoriasis, atopic dermatitis), is associated with several systemic diseases (e.g., chronic kidney and liver disease), and occurs in patients undergoing hemodialysis, spinal administration of opioids, and in those suffering from AIDS. The reader will learn about the multiple pathways for itch and their interactions with pain. The relationship between these closely related, yet distinct sensory phenomena, will be emphasized. Both itch and pain use several common molecules to send signals to the brain. Thus, drugs that have been, and are being, developed as analgesics may also attenuate intractable itch. This has been an exciting and very necessary turn of events since traditional H-1 receptor antagonists are ineffective in blocking the pruritus associated with kidney failure and cholestasis. The clinical chapters will provide insights into contemporary treatment regimens for pruritus in different human scenarios.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Pharmacology Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA

    Alan Cowan

  • Department of Dermatology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadephia, USA

    Gil Yosipovitch

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