ABSTRACT
The most common pruritic disorders are caused by inflammatory skin diseases. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing form of eczema characterized by scaling, itchy, inflamed skin that can be triggered by an interplay of genetic, immunological, and environmental factors. Along with asthma and allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis is part of a larger family of allergic diseases (1). Immune dysregulation appears to play an important role in the etiology of atopic dermatitis (2,3). Bone marrow-derived cells may playa primary role because sensitivity to antigens has been transferred to recipients of bone marrow cells from patients with atopic dermatitis (4). Altered T-cell function appears to be the primary immunological abnormality present in atopic dermatitis and patients have elevated levels of 19B. Agents that decrease the inflammation may indirectly improve the sensation of itch.
