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Capsaicin treatment induces histamine release and perfusion changes in psoriatic skin
Author(s) -
Krogstad,
LÖnnroth,
Larson,
Wallin
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1999.02925.x
Subject(s) - capsaicin , histamine , microdialysis , perfusion , medicine , psoriasis , placebo , anesthesia , blood flow , histaminergic , pharmacology , pathology , dermatology , central nervous system , receptor , alternative medicine
To determine whether neurogenic factors may be of importance in the regulation of histamine release and blood flow in psoriatic plaque, the effect of capsaicin was studied in 22 psoriatic patients with active, untreated psoriatic lesions. In each of 12 patients, one microdialysis fibre was placed in non‐lesional skin and one was placed in lesional skin at depths of 0.7 and 0.9 mm, respectively. Dialysates were collected for the analysis of histamine in the resting state and after 60 min of repetitive epicutaneous application of 1% capsaicin above the microdialysis catheter. In 10 patients, topical capsaicin and placebo were applied for 24 h to lesional/lesion‐free skin. Skin blood flow and perfusion (evaluated using the 133 xenon clearance technique and scanning laser Doppler, respectively) were measured before the application of capsaicin and after removal. After 60 min of capsaicin treatment, both the perfusion and interstitial concentration of histamine, as well as the net release of histamine, were significantly increased in affected (from 38 ± 6 to 45 ± 6 nmol/L, mean ± SEM) and unaffected (from 15 ± 2 to 19 ± 2 nmol/L) skin. Compared with placebo, 24 h of treatment with capsaicin caused a 15% decrease in perfusion in lesional skin. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that capsaicin‐sensitive nerves may induce histamine release in non‐lesional and lesional skin and that afferent unmyelinated nerve fibres may contribute to the high blood flow in psoriatic plaques.