Treatment with propranolol of 6 patients with idiopathic aquagenic pruritus.

摘要

Idiopathic aquagenic pruritus (IAP), as defined by Steinman and Greaves in 1985, occurs after contact with water, involving intense itching without visible skin changes and without an underlying pathology (polycythemia vera, Hodgkin disease, and blood disorders) or drugs that could induce this symptom. Conventional treatments are the addition of sodium bicarbonate to bath water, antihistamines, or phototherapy, which relieve symptoms in 24%, 47%, and 50% of patients, respectively. However, propranolol considerably reduced symptoms in 2 patients. Our study, which was conducted in 2 French allergology departments, evaluated the efficacy and tolerance of a 3-month treatment with propranolol in 6 patients with IAP (according to the criteria of Steinman and Greaves1). Treatment efficacy was assessed by the percentage improvement in symptoms rated by each patient using a visual analog scale at 1,4, and 12 weeks of treatment.