Background: Localized itch of non-pruritoceptive origin is often neuropathic and may be referred to as neuropathic itch syndrome.
Objectives: To describe the results of nerve conduction studies in patients with anogenital pruritus, brachioradial pruritus and scalp dysesthesia, and compare these sites to typical sites of lichen simplex chronicus (LSC).
Methods: The study summarizes previously published data combined with unpublished data of patients with scalp dysesthesia. Nerve conduction studies included measurements of distal sensory and motor latency, conduction velocity and F-responses.
Results: A neuropathy was demonstrated in 29 of 36 patients with anogenital pruritus (80.5%), 8/14 with brachioradial pruritus (57.1%) and 4/9 with scalp dysesthesia (44.4%). The typical sites overlapped with some but not all LSC sites.
Conclusions: A considerable proportion of patients with brachioradial pruritus, anogenital pruritus and scalp dysesthesia have abnormal nerve conduction findings, suggesting a neuropathic origin. The skin sites overlap with some common LSC sites, suggesting that in some cases of LSC a local neuropathy could be a possible cause.