vasoactive-intestinal-peptide and Hyperpigmentation

Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a sensory neuropathy the pathogenesis of which is not yet completely elucidated.. The aim of this study was to investigate the histopathological changes in NP with special emphasis on cutaneous innervation.. Along with site-matched biopsies from 5 healthy individuals, lesional skin biopsies from 14 cases of NP and biopsies from contralateral nonlesional skin in 9 of these cases were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Congo red. For immunohistochemical analysis, all samples were stained with two general neural markers (S-100 protein and protein gene product 9.5) and two neuropeptides (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and substance P).. Light microscopy was compatible with postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Immunohistochemistry did not reveal a significant difference in the staining pattern of lesional skin and control tissue (p > 0.05). Although not reaching statistical significance, the percentage of cases which showed no staining was higher in the group of patients with more chronic NP.. The finding of less immunohistochemical staining in cases with more chronicity could be of clinical importance and is worth investigating further.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Back Pain; Biomarkers; Epidermis; Female; Humans; Hyperpigmentation; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Polyradiculoneuropathy; Pruritus; S100 Proteins; Substance P; Thiolester Hydrolases; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide