Analysis of 325 Patients with Chronic Nodular Prurigo: Clinics, Burden of Disease and Course of Treatment

Chronic nodular prurigo presents with multiple pruriginous nodules and severe pruritus. This study aims to explore the treatment course and regimens in patients with chronic nodular prurigo and to analyse predictive factors contributing to therapeutic success. A total of 325 patients with chronic nodular prurigo (male 37.5%) were analysed concerning demographic data, pruritus intensity, medical history, psychological impairment, quality of life, treatment duration, regimens and outcome. These parameters were compared with 325 sex- and age-matched patients with chronic pruritus on non-lesional skin. Treatment success was dependent on duration and regime of treatment and independent of age, sex and initial itch intensity. Non-responders displayed a higher percentage of inflamed nodules, a higher portion of excoriated nodules and a higher impairment of quality of life and mood factors before initiation of treatment. Gabapentinoids and immunosuppressants proved to be the most successful therapeutic agents. Compared with patients with chronic pruritus, those with chronic nodular prurigo needed longer duration of therapy

Validation of a Comprehensive Set of Pruritus Assessment Instruments: The Chronic Pruritus Tools Questionnaire PRURITOOLS

Few studies have validated standard measurement instruments for evaluation of chronic pruritus. The Chronic Pruritus Tools Questionnaire PRURITOOLS assembles a set of instruments for the assessment of pruritus, such as the visual analogue scale (horizontal 100-mm line), numerical rating scale (0–10), verbal rating scale, and information on pruritus quality and improvement during therapy. This study, with 40 subjects, analysed PRURITOOLS regarding convergent validity and test–retest reliability (60 min), followed by a feasibility questionnaire. Test–retest reliability for PRURITOOLS items was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.84–1). Strong to very strong correlations between the pruritus intensity scales indicated convergent validity. The feasibility questionnaire showed an overall acceptance of PRURITOOLS, and the majority of subjects (82.5%) considered it an appropriate questionnaire to measure pruritus. In conclusion, PRURITOOLS offers validated tools for rapid pruritus assessment in routine care or endpoints of clinical trials