Chronic Pruritus in the Elderly: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Management

Rodrigo Valdes-Rodriguez; Carolyn Stull; Gil Yosipovitch

doi:10.1007/s40266-015-0246-0

Chronic Pruritus in the Elderly: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Management

Drugs & Aging ◽

10.1007/s40266-015-0246-0 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 201-215 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Rodrigo Valdes-Rodriguez ◽

Carolyn Stull ◽

Gil Yosipovitch

Keyword(s):

The Elderly ◽

Diagnosis And Management ◽

Chronic Pruritus

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Pathophysiology and Treatment of Pruritus in Elderly

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22010174 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 174

Author(s):

Bo Young Chung ◽

Ji Young Um ◽

Jin Cheol Kim ◽

Seok Young Kang ◽

Chun Wook Park ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skin Diseases ◽

Unknown Origin ◽

The Elderly ◽

Common Symptom ◽

Multiple Factors ◽

Signaling Mechanisms ◽

Novel Drugs ◽

Neuropathic Pruritus ◽

Chronic Pruritus

Pruritus is a relatively common symptom that anyone can experience at any point in their life and is more common in the elderly. Pruritus in elderly can be defined as chronic pruritus in a person over 65 years old. The pathophysiology of pruritus in elderly is still unclear, and the quality of life is reduced. Generally, itch can be clinically classified into six types: Itch caused by systemic diseases, itch caused by skin diseases, neuropathic pruritus, psychogenic pruritus, pruritus with multiple factors, and from unknown causes. Senile pruritus can be defined as a chronic pruritus of unknown origin in elderly people. Various neuronal mediators, signaling mechanisms at neuronal terminals, central and peripheral neurotransmission pathways, and neuronal sensitizations are included in the processes causing itch. A variety of therapies are used and several novel drugs are being developed to relieve itch, including systemic and topical treatments.

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Adult onset Still’s disease in the elderly: a case-based literature review

BMC Rheumatology ◽

10.1186/s41927-021-00183-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Arash Mollaeian ◽

Jingjing Chen ◽

Nina N. Chan ◽

Gregory A. Nizialek ◽

Christopher J. Haas

Keyword(s):

Delayed Diagnosis ◽

The Elderly ◽

Adult Onset Still’S Disease ◽

Inflammatory Disorder ◽

Adult Onset ◽

Still’S Disease ◽

Diagnosis And Management ◽

Still's Disease ◽

Area Of Interest ◽

Adult Onset Still's Disease

Abstract Background Adult onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is a rare inflammatory disorder that classically presents with high spiking fevers, evanescent rash, and arthritis. The diagnosis is one of exclusion and can be further complicated by atypical presentations, particularly in elderly patients in whom AOSD is very rare. Case presentation A case of AOSD in a 73-year-old woman with a non-classic presentation, leading to delayed diagnosis and management, is presented along with a review of the English literature for AOSD cases in elderly people over 70 years of age. Thirty nine case reports and series were identified and the current case was added, totaling 42 individual cases. Significant findings included a four-times higher prevalence in females, a higher prevalence of macrophage activation syndrome despite lower mortality, the presence of pruritic rash in almost one fifth of the cases, and high prevalence of delayed diagnosis. Conclusions AOSD in the elderly may vary from the classic criteria described in the medical literature and may lead to delayed diagnosis and management. Further evaluation and better characterization of AOSD in the elderly remains an area of interest.

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