Characterizing Pruritus in Autoimmune Connective Tissue Diseases.

Background

Autoimmune connective tissue diseases (ACTDs) are a broad range of diseases featured by immune dysregulation, and often have multisystem involvement with prominent skin manifestations. Pruritus is one of the most common symptoms in these diseases, with significant impact on the quality of life of patients.

Objective

To characterize the frequency, location, severity, and timing relative to disease onset of pruritus in different ACTDs.

Methods

A chart review of all patients seen in the Rheumatology-Dermatology clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Results

Itch was a troubling symptom in 83% of dermatomyositis (DM), 61% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 59% of Sjogren syndrome (SJO), 22% of systemic sclerosis (SSc), and 60% of mixed connective tissue disease. In DM and SLE, itch paralleled the course of inflammatory skin manifestations in 83% and 45%, respectively. Itch in DM is more intense and more treatment resistant in 12% vs 1% in SLE. In contrast, itch in SSc and SJO tended to occur later in the disease course, 86% vs 42%, respectively.

Conclusion

Itch is common in all ACTDs and often under-evaluated and under treated. Pruritus is more common and more severe in DM than in SLE. Treatment of pruritus in ACTDs can be challenging, and sometimes multi-modal therapy is warranted. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(10):995-998.