TY - JOUR
T1 - A Test-Retest Reliability Study of Human Experimental Models of Histaminergic and Non-histaminergic Itch
AU - Andersen, Hjalte H
AU - Sørensen, Anne-Kathrine R
AU - Nielsen, Gebbie A R
AU - Mølgaard, Marianne S
AU - Stilling, Pernille
AU - Boudreau, Shellie A
AU - Elberling, Jesper
AU - Arendt-Nielsen, Lars
PY - 2017/2/8
Y1 - 2017/2/8
N2 - Numerous exploratory, proof-of-concept and interventional studies have used histaminergic and non-histaminergic human models of itch. However, no reliability studies for such surrogate models have been conducted. This study investigated the test-retest reliability for the response to histamine- and cowhage- (5, 15, 25 spiculae) induced itch in healthy volunteers. Cowhage spiculae were individually applied with tweezers and 1% histamine was applied with a skin prick test (SPT) lancet, both on the volar forearm. The intensity of itch was recorded on a visual analogue scale and self-reported area of itch was assessed 5 and 10 min after itch provocation. Reliability of the evoked itch (area under the curve and peak intensity) was assessed by the coefficient of variation (CV), intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and sample size estimation for parallel and cross-over designs. Cowhage (ICC = 0.57-0.77, CVbetween = 97%, CVwithin = 41%) and histamine: (ICC = 0.83-0.93, CVbetween = 97%, CVwithin = 20%) exhibited moderate-to-excellent intra-individual reliability and moderate inter-individual reliability for the itch intensity. For a test-retest observation period of one week, SPT-delivered histamine and application of cowhage-spiculae are reproducible human models of itch. The high inter-individual and low intra-individual variability suggests cross-over designed studies when applicable.
AB - Numerous exploratory, proof-of-concept and interventional studies have used histaminergic and non-histaminergic human models of itch. However, no reliability studies for such surrogate models have been conducted. This study investigated the test-retest reliability for the response to histamine- and cowhage- (5, 15, 25 spiculae) induced itch in healthy volunteers. Cowhage spiculae were individually applied with tweezers and 1% histamine was applied with a skin prick test (SPT) lancet, both on the volar forearm. The intensity of itch was recorded on a visual analogue scale and self-reported area of itch was assessed 5 and 10 min after itch provocation. Reliability of the evoked itch (area under the curve and peak intensity) was assessed by the coefficient of variation (CV), intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and sample size estimation for parallel and cross-over designs. Cowhage (ICC = 0.57-0.77, CVbetween = 97%, CVwithin = 41%) and histamine: (ICC = 0.83-0.93, CVbetween = 97%, CVwithin = 20%) exhibited moderate-to-excellent intra-individual reliability and moderate inter-individual reliability for the itch intensity. For a test-retest observation period of one week, SPT-delivered histamine and application of cowhage-spiculae are reproducible human models of itch. The high inter-individual and low intra-individual variability suggests cross-over designed studies when applicable.
KW - Histamine/adverse effects
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Models, Biological
KW - Mucuna
KW - Plant Components, Aerial/adverse effects
KW - Pruritus/etiology
KW - Reproducibility of Results
KW - Severity of Illness Index
KW - Visual Analog Scale
KW - Young Adult
U2 - 10.2340/00015555-2502
DO - 10.2340/00015555-2502
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 27377123
SN - 0001-5555
VL - 97
SP - 198
EP - 207
JO - Acta Dermato-Venereologica
JF - Acta Dermato-Venereologica
IS - 2
ER -