Aquagenic Pruritus: A Review of the Pathophysiology – Beyound Histamine

Ekpe EL; Utomi Mercy Nkemjika

doi:doi:10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11

| Peer-Reviewed

Aquagenic Pruritus: A Review of the Pathophysiology – Beyound Histamine

Ekpe EL, Utomi Mercy Nkemjika

Published in Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 3, Issue 4)

Received: 5 June 2017 Accepted: 5 July 2017 Published: 16 August 2017

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

Aquagenic pruritus is a common dermatological problem with prevalence as high as 26.5% in some locations of the world. Pruritus is the major symptom manifesting as prick-like, burning or biting sensation after contact with water. Histamine from mast cells has been the main culprit responsible for the itching associated with this problem and some patients are relieved by anti-histamines when given. However, anti-histamines do not relieve symptoms of aquagenic pruritus when given to some other groups of patients; implying that other risk factors or chemical mediators outside histamine may be responsible for this problem. Recently, other associated risk factors have been enumerated from various scientific researches to be responsible for this health problem. This article reviews these other risk factors that are linked up to the pathophysiology of aquagenic pruritus and the possible pharmacological intervention adopted by various authors and researchers globally.

Published in	Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 3, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11
Page(s)	40-43
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Aquagenic, Pruritus, Dermatological, Antihistamine, Histamine, Water

References

[1]	Freedberg IM, Eisen, AZ, Wolff KA; Austin K, Goldsmith LA, Katz, SI (eds) Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology on General Medicine 2003 (6^th ed.) McGraw Hill. P. 40.
[2]	Steinman HK, Greaver MW, Aquagenic Pruritus CJ. Am Acad. Dermatol 1985, 13(1): 91-96.
[3]	Hirshfeld A. Aquagenic urticaria and aquagenic pruritus: A Psychoanalytic study. Feb 2010.
[4]	Salami TA, Samuel SO, Eze KC, Irekpita E, Oziegbe E, Momoh MO. Prevalence and characteristics of Aquagenic pruritus in a young African population. BMC Dermatology 2009, 9: 4.
[5]	Olumide YM, Oresanya F. Generalized Pruritus as a presenting symptom in Nigeria. Int. J. Dermatol 1987; 26(3): 171-3.
[6]	Potasman I, Heinrich I, Bassan HM. Aquagenic Pruritus: Prevalence and clinical characteristics. ISr J Med Sci. 1992; 26(9): 499-503.
[7]	Heitkemper T, Hofmann T, Plan NQ, Stander S. Aquagenic Pruritus: Associated diseases and clinical pruritus characteristics. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges: October 2010; 8(10): 797-804.
[8]	Sekar CS, Srinivas CR, Jacob S. Aquagenic Pruritus: Beneath Water “lies”. Indian Journal of Dermatol. 2011, July 56(4): 446-7.
[9]	Abdel – Naser MB, Gollnick H, Orfanos CE Aquagenic Pruritus as a presenting symptom of polycythemia Vera. Dermatology. 1993; 187(2): 130-3.
[10]	Ratnaud RC, Burrows NP, Marcus RE, Norvis PG Aquagenic Pruritus and acute Iymphoblastic Leukaemia. Br J. Dermatol 1993: 348-349.
[11]	Khalifa N, Singer CR, Black AK. Aquagenic Pruritus in a patient with myelodysplastic and T-cell non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2002: 46: 144-145.
[12]	Ferguson JE, August PJ, Guy AJ. Aquagenic Pruritus associated with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 1994; 19(3): 257-258.
[13]	Gregor M. Aquagenic pruritus and Hepatitis C. Der Internist 1999, Feb 40: 220-221.
[14]	Greaves MW, Black AK, Eady RA; Coults A. Aquagenic Pruritus. Br Med J. 1981: 2008-2010.
[15]	Santoso I, Santoso P, Julia C. Aquagenic pruritus: two cases that resolved with histamine 1 and histamine 2 antagonists. Hospital Physician 1999; 67-8.
[16]	Jackson N, Burt D, Crocker J, Boughton B. Skin mast cells in polycythemia vera relationship to the pathogenesis and treatment of pruritus. Br J Dermatol 1987. 116 (1): 21-29.
[17]	Davis RS, Remigio LK, Schocket AL, Bock SA. Evaluation of patients with both aquagenic and cholinergic articaria. J. Allergy Clin Immunol 1981; 68(8): 479-483.
[18]	Lotti, T, Steinman. HK, Greaven MW, Fabbri P, Brunetti L, Panconesi E. Increased cutaneun fibnnotlytic activity in aquagenic pruritus. Int. J. Dermatol 1986; 25: 508-10.
[19]	Ryan T J (e d.). In: Microvascular Injury (Major problems in dermatology). 1976; 7: 49.
[20]	Cao T, Yong AA, Tan KB, Tey HL. Idiopathic aquagenic puritis: Pathogenesis and effective treatment with atenolol. Dermatol ther. 2015. May – June; 28(3): 118-21.
[21]	Mendlowicz MV, Lima JLL, Fonatenelle L F(ed.). Aquagenic pruritus induced by clomipramine. In: General Hospital Psychiatry. 2013.
[22]	Wolf R, Krakowsk, A. Variations in Aquagenic Pruritus and treatment alternatives. J Am A Cad Dermatol 1988; 18: 1051-3.
[23]	Bayoumi AH, Highet AS. Baking Soda Baths for Aquagenic Puritis. The Lancet 1986; 328 (8504): 464.
[24]	Ingber S, Cohen PD. Successful treatment of refractory aquagenic pruritus with Naltrexone J. Cut Med Surg. 2005; 9 (5): 215-6.
[25]	Martinez – Escribano JA, Quecedo E, Delacuadra J, Frias J. Treatment of aquagenic urticaria with PUVA and astemizole J Am Acad. Dermatol 1997; 36 (1): 118-119.
[26]	Koh MJ, Chang WS. Aquagenic Pruritus responding to combined ultraviolet A/narrow band ultraviolet B Therapy. Photodermatol photoimmunol photomed. 2009: 25: 169-70.
[27]	Spelman L, Dicker T. Aquagenic pruritus is relieved by tight-fitting clothing. Australia J Dermatol 2001; 42 (2): 146.
[28]	Goodkin R, Bernhard JD. Repeated PUVA treatment of aquagenic pruritus. Clin Exp Dermatol 2002; 27 (2): 164-5.
[29]	Smith RA, Ross JS, Staughtion RC. Bath PUVA as treatment for aquaenic pruritus. Br J Derm 1994; 131 (4): 584.
[30]	Norris JF. Treatment of aquagenic purities with alcohol. Br J. Dermatol 1998: 138 (5): 427.
[31]	Thomsen K. Aquagenic Pruritus responds to propanolol. J. Am Acad Dermatol 1980, 22 (4): 697.
[32]	Menage HD, Norvis PG, Hawk JL; Graves MW. The efficacy of Psoralein photochemotherapy in the treatment of aquagenic prurits. Br J. Dermatol 1993: 1229 (2): 163-5.
[33]	Buttler DF, James WD, (ed). Pruritus and systemic disease: clinical presentation emedicine.com/article/1098029-clinical.
[34]	Auerbach PS. Wilderness Medicine, 5^th ed.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Ekpe EL, Utomi Mercy Nkemjika. (2017). Aquagenic Pruritus: A Review of the Pathophysiology – Beyound Histamine. Central African Journal of Public Health, 3(4), 40-43. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Ekpe EL; Utomi Mercy Nkemjika. Aquagenic Pruritus: A Review of the Pathophysiology – Beyound Histamine. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2017, 3(4), 40-43. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Ekpe EL, Utomi Mercy Nkemjika. Aquagenic Pruritus: A Review of the Pathophysiology – Beyound Histamine. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2017;3(4):40-43. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11,
  author = {Ekpe EL and Utomi Mercy Nkemjika},
  title = {Aquagenic Pruritus: A Review of the Pathophysiology – Beyound Histamine},
  journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {3},
  number = {4},
  pages = {40-43},
  doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20170304.11},
  abstract = {Aquagenic pruritus is a common dermatological problem with prevalence as high as 26.5% in some locations of the world. Pruritus is the major symptom manifesting as prick-like, burning or biting sensation after contact with water. Histamine from mast cells has been the main culprit responsible for the itching associated with this problem and some patients are relieved by anti-histamines when given. However, anti-histamines do not relieve symptoms of aquagenic pruritus when given to some other groups of patients; implying that other risk factors or chemical mediators outside histamine may be responsible for this problem. Recently, other associated risk factors have been enumerated from various scientific researches to be responsible for this health problem. This article reviews these other risk factors that are linked up to the pathophysiology of aquagenic pruritus and the possible pharmacological intervention adopted by various authors and researchers globally.},
 year = {2017}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Aquagenic Pruritus: A Review of the Pathophysiology – Beyound Histamine
AU  - Ekpe EL
AU  - Utomi Mercy Nkemjika
Y1  - 2017/08/16
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11
T2  - Central African Journal of Public Health
JF  - Central African Journal of Public Health
JO  - Central African Journal of Public Health
SP  - 40
EP  - 43
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5781
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11
AB  - Aquagenic pruritus is a common dermatological problem with prevalence as high as 26.5% in some locations of the world. Pruritus is the major symptom manifesting as prick-like, burning or biting sensation after contact with water. Histamine from mast cells has been the main culprit responsible for the itching associated with this problem and some patients are relieved by anti-histamines when given. However, anti-histamines do not relieve symptoms of aquagenic pruritus when given to some other groups of patients; implying that other risk factors or chemical mediators outside histamine may be responsible for this problem. Recently, other associated risk factors have been enumerated from various scientific researches to be responsible for this health problem. This article reviews these other risk factors that are linked up to the pathophysiology of aquagenic pruritus and the possible pharmacological intervention adopted by various authors and researchers globally.
VL  - 3
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Ekpe EL

Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Utomi Mercy Nkemjika

Department of Medicine & Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Ekpe EL, Utomi Mercy Nkemjika. (2017). Aquagenic Pruritus: A Review of the Pathophysiology – Beyound Histamine. Central African Journal of Public Health, 3(4), 40-43. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Ekpe EL; Utomi Mercy Nkemjika. Aquagenic Pruritus: A Review of the Pathophysiology – Beyound Histamine. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2017, 3(4), 40-43. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Ekpe EL, Utomi Mercy Nkemjika. Aquagenic Pruritus: A Review of the Pathophysiology – Beyound Histamine. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2017;3(4):40-43. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11,
  author = {Ekpe EL and Utomi Mercy Nkemjika},
  title = {Aquagenic Pruritus: A Review of the Pathophysiology – Beyound Histamine},
  journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {3},
  number = {4},
  pages = {40-43},
  doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20170304.11},
  abstract = {Aquagenic pruritus is a common dermatological problem with prevalence as high as 26.5% in some locations of the world. Pruritus is the major symptom manifesting as prick-like, burning or biting sensation after contact with water. Histamine from mast cells has been the main culprit responsible for the itching associated with this problem and some patients are relieved by anti-histamines when given. However, anti-histamines do not relieve symptoms of aquagenic pruritus when given to some other groups of patients; implying that other risk factors or chemical mediators outside histamine may be responsible for this problem. Recently, other associated risk factors have been enumerated from various scientific researches to be responsible for this health problem. This article reviews these other risk factors that are linked up to the pathophysiology of aquagenic pruritus and the possible pharmacological intervention adopted by various authors and researchers globally.},
 year = {2017}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Aquagenic Pruritus: A Review of the Pathophysiology – Beyound Histamine
AU  - Ekpe EL
AU  - Utomi Mercy Nkemjika
Y1  - 2017/08/16
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11
T2  - Central African Journal of Public Health
JF  - Central African Journal of Public Health
JO  - Central African Journal of Public Health
SP  - 40
EP  - 43
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5781
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20170304.11
AB  - Aquagenic pruritus is a common dermatological problem with prevalence as high as 26.5% in some locations of the world. Pruritus is the major symptom manifesting as prick-like, burning or biting sensation after contact with water. Histamine from mast cells has been the main culprit responsible for the itching associated with this problem and some patients are relieved by anti-histamines when given. However, anti-histamines do not relieve symptoms of aquagenic pruritus when given to some other groups of patients; implying that other risk factors or chemical mediators outside histamine may be responsible for this problem. Recently, other associated risk factors have been enumerated from various scientific researches to be responsible for this health problem. This article reviews these other risk factors that are linked up to the pathophysiology of aquagenic pruritus and the possible pharmacological intervention adopted by various authors and researchers globally.
VL  - 3
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download