beta-endorphin and Vascular-Diseases

 This study investigated the sex differences of the inflammatory mediator level at the time of itch onset in patients with chronic venous disease (CVD). Twenty-seven CVD patients (nineteen women, eight men) and nine healthy controls (five women, four men) participated. CVD-associated itching was observed in both men and women. Before sclerotherapy, both sexes had elevations in several itch-related mediators. Among these, women had significantly higher tryptase, whereas men had significantly higher β-endorphin and adrenocorticotropic hormone. After sclerotherapy, all levels normalized in both sexes. In this study, itching was increased tryptase in women and increased adrenocorticotropic hormone and β-endorphin in men.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Adult; Aged; beta-Endorphin; Chronic Disease; Female; Humans; Inflammation Mediators; Male; Middle Aged; Pruritus; Sclerotherapy; Sex Characteristics; Tryptases; Vascular Diseases