Molecular Aspects of Pruritus Pathogenesis in Psoriasis

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease with a genetic background that involves almost 3% of the general population worldwide. Approximately, 70–90% of patients with psoriasis suffer from pruritus, an unpleasant sensation that provokes a desire to scratch. Despite the enormous progress in understanding the mechanisms that cause psoriasis, the pathogenesis of psoriasis-related pruritus still remains unclear. In order to improve patients’ quality of life, development of more effective and safer antipruritic therapies is necessary. In turn to make it possible, better understanding of complexed and multifactorial pathogenesis of this symptom is needed. In this article we have systematized the current knowledge about pruritus origin in psoriasis.