Tyczyńska Kinga, Krajewski Piotr K, Nowicka-Suszko Danuta, Janczak Dariusz, Augustyniak-Bartosik Hanna, Krajewska Magdalena, Szepietowski Jacek C
Department of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556, Wroclaw, Poland.
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Chalubinskiego 1, 50-368, Wroclaw, Poland.
Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2023 Nov;13(11):2785-2796. doi: 10.1007/s13555-023-01029-4. Epub 2023 Oct 1.
Chronic pruritus (CP) is a common symptom defined as a sensation that provokes the desire to scratch and which lasts for at least 6 weeks. CP remains a problem for up to 21.3% of renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Our research aimed to establish the possible association between serum levels of neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the presence and intensity of CP in RTR.
The study was performed on a group of 129 RTRs, who were divided according to the presence or absence of pruritus in the previous 3 days. The assessment of pruritus was performed with the use of a numeric rating scale (NRS), 4-Item Itch Questionnaire (4IIQ), and Itchy Quality of Life (Itchy QoL). A total of 129 blood samples with a volume of 9 ml were drawn from RTRs during the monthly routine control. Serum levels (pg/mL) of NT-4 and BDNF were measured by the ELISA.
Pruritic RTRs have statistically significantly higher serum concentrations of NT-4 serum level compared to non-pruritic RTRs (229.17 ± 143.86 pg/mL and 153.08 ± 78.19 pg/mL [p = 0.024], respectively). Moreover, a statistically significant difference between pruritic and non-pruritic RTRs with healthy controls was shown (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Although there was a numerically higher serum concentration of BDNF in pruritic RTRs (32.18 ± 7.31 pg/mL vs. 31.58 ± 10.84 pg/mL), the difference did not reach statistical significance. No statistically significant difference was also seen in BDNF serum levels between RTRs and healthy controls. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant, positive correlation between serum concentration of NT-4 and NRS score (p = 0.008, r = 0.357).
The results indicate higher NT-4 serum concentration in RTRs with pruritus compared to RTRs without pruritus. Furthermore, the study revealed a statistically significant, positive correlation between the serum concentration of NT-4 and NRS score.
慢性瘙痒（CP）是一种常见症状，定义为引发搔抓欲望且持续至少6周的一种感觉。对于高达21.3%的肾移植受者（RTR）而言，CP仍然是一个问题。我们的研究旨在确定肾移植受者血清中神经营养因子-4（NT-4）和脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）水平与CP的存在及严重程度之间可能存在的关联。
该研究针对一组129名肾移植受者开展，根据他们在过去3天内是否存在瘙痒进行分组。使用数字评分量表（NRS）、4项瘙痒问卷（4IIQ）和瘙痒生活质量量表（Itchy QoL）对瘙痒进行评估。在每月的常规检查期间，从肾移植受者身上采集了总共129份9毫升的血样。通过酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）测量NT-4和BDNF的血清水平（pg/mL）。
与无瘙痒的肾移植受者相比，有瘙痒的肾移植受者血清中NT-4水平在统计学上显著更高（分别为229.17±143.86 pg/mL和153.08±78.19 pg/mL [p = 0.024]）。此外，有瘙痒的肾移植受者与无瘙痒的肾移植受者和健康对照组之间显示出统计学上的显著差异（分别为p < 0.001和p < 0.001）。尽管有瘙痒的肾移植受者血清中BDNF浓度在数值上更高（32.18±7.31 pg/mL对31.58±10.84 pg/mL），但差异未达到统计学显著性。肾移植受者与健康对照组之间的BDNF血清水平也未观察到统计学上的显著差异。此外，NT-4血清浓度与NRS评分之间存在统计学上显著的正相关（p = 0.008，r = 0.357）。
结果表明，与无瘙痒的肾移植受者相比，有瘙痒的肾移植受者血清中NT-4浓度更高。此外，该研究揭示了NT-4血清浓度与NRS评分之间存在统计学上显著的正相关。
