Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Clin Exp Dermatol. 2019 Apr;44(3):252-256. doi: 10.1111/ced.13695. Epub 2018 Jun 26.
Lichen planus (LP) is a moderately prevalent inflammatory disorder that affects the skin and the oral mucosa, leading to a characteristic appearance and causing severe itching.
To assess the potency of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as an antipruritic line of treatment in patients with LP.
We enrolled 30 patients with LP who had a history of recurrent relapses of confined pruritus forcing them to scratch or rub the affected area intensively. Patients were treated with TENS three times per week for 4 weeks. Severity of itching was estimated by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).
There was a statistically significant decline in mean VAS score at weeks 2 and 4 of treatment compared with baseline (P < 0.05, with 74% of participants having an improvement of > 50%. Significant improvement in itching intensity also resulted in better quality of life, as there was also a significant reduction in median DLQI at weeks 2 and 4 of therapy compared with baseline (P < 0.05), with 65% of patients having an improvement of > 50% in median DLQI score.
TENS may be an alternative safe treatment for LP-induced itching.
扁平苔藓（LP）是一种中度流行的炎症性疾病，影响皮肤和口腔黏膜，导致特征性外观，并引起严重瘙痒。
评估经皮神经电刺激（TENS）作为 LP 患者止痒的治疗方法。
我们招募了 30 名 LP 患者，他们有反复发作的局限性瘙痒病史，迫使他们强烈搔抓或摩擦受影响的区域。患者每周接受 TENS 治疗 3 次，共 4 周。使用视觉模拟量表（VAS）和皮肤病生活质量指数（DLQI）评估瘙痒严重程度。
与基线相比，治疗第 2 周和第 4 周的平均 VAS 评分有统计学显著下降（P < 0.05，74%的参与者改善> 50%。瘙痒强度的显著改善也导致生活质量的提高，因为治疗第 2 周和第 4 周的中位数 DLQI 与基线相比也有显著降低（P < 0.05），中位数 DLQI 评分改善> 50%的患者占 65%。
TENS 可能是 LP 引起的瘙痒的一种替代安全治疗方法。
