Prurigo nodularis

Updated on Dec 25, 2023

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Specialty dermatology ICD-9-CM 698.3 eMedicine derm/350		ICD-10 L28.1 DiseasesDB 32152

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a skin disease characterised by pruritic (itchy) nodules which usually appear on the arms or legs. Patients often present with multiple excoriated lesions caused by scratching. PN is also known as Hyde prurigo nodularis, Picker's nodules, atypical nodular form of neurodermatitis circumscripta, lichen corneus obtusus.

Lichen simplex chronicus is a distinct clinical entity.

Signs and symptoms

Nodules are discrete, generally symmetric, hyperpigmented or purpuric, and firm. They are greater than 0.5 cm in both width and depth (as opposed to papules which are less than 0.5 cm). They can appear on any part of the body, but generally begin on the arms and legs.

Excoriated lesions are often flat, umbilicated, or have a crusted top.

Nodules may appear to begin in the hair follicles.

Nodule pattern may be follicular.

In true prurigo nodularis, a nodule forms before any itching begins. Typically, these nodules are extremely pruritic and are alleviated only by steroids.

Causes

The cause of prurigo nodularis is unknown, although other conditions may induce PN. PN has been linked to Becker's nevus, linear IgA disease, an autoimmune condition, liver disease and T cells. Systemic pruritus has been linked to cholestasis, thyroid disease, polycythaemia rubra vera, uraemia, Hodgkins disease, HIV and other immunodeficiency diseases. Internal malignancies, liver failure, renal failure, and psychiatric illnesses have been considered to induce PN, although more recent research has refuted a psychiatric cause for PN. Patients report an ongoing battle to distinguish themselves from those with psychiatric disorders such as delusions of parasitosis and other psychiatric conditions.

Pathophysiology

Chronic and repetitive scratching, picking, or rubbing of the nodules may result in permanent changes to the skin, including nodular lichenification, hyperkeratosis, hyperpigmentation, and skin thickening. Unhealed, excoriated lesions are often scaly, crusted or scabbed. Many patients report a lack of wound healing even when medications relieve the itching and subsequent scratching.

Patients often:

seek treatment during middle-age, although PN can occur at any age.

have a history of chronic severe pruritus.

have a significant medical history for unrelated conditions.

suffer from liver or kidney dysfunctions.

suffer secondary skin infections.

have a personal or family history of atopic dermatitis.

have other autoimmune disorders.

have low vitamin D levels.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on visual examination and the presence of itching. A skin biopsy is often performed to exclude other diseases. Lesion biopsies will typically show a high level of eosinophils in PN. A culture of at least one lesion will rule out staphylococcus infection, which has been significantly linked to atopic dermatitis.

Treatment

Prurigo nodularis is very hard to treat, but current therapies include steroids, vitamins, cryosurgery, thalidomide and UVB light. In the event that staphylococcus or other infection is present, antibiotics have proven effective, but tend to cause more harm than good for this particular disease. A physician may administer a strong dose of prednisone, which will almost immediately stop the itch/scratch cycle. However, cessation of steroids allows relapse to occur, usually within a few weeks. Horiuchi et al. recently reported significant improvement in PN with antibiotic therapy.

Another drug a physician may administer is Apo-Azathioprine. Azathioprine, also known by its brand name Imuran, is an immunosuppressive drug used in organ transplantation and autoimmune diseases and belongs to the chemical class of purine analogues.

History

Prurigo nodularis was first described by Hyde and Montgomery in 1909.

References

Prurigo nodularis Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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