Pruritis

Question 1

List 3 receptors involved in the signaling of pruritis

Answer 1

• mu opioid
• 5HT3
• histamine

Question 2

Compare the role of mu vs. kappa opioid receptor in pruritis

Answer 2

• mu receptor - stimulatory

- kappa receptor - inhibitory

Question 3

List 4 large categories of pruritis

Answer 3

• dermatologic
• systemic
• neurologic
• psychogenic

Question 4

List common mechanisms of malignancy related pruritis

Answer 4

• cutaneous disease infiltration
• compressive effect on nerve
• paraneoplastic process

Question 5

How does paraneoplastic pruritis occur?

Answer 5

Immunologic response to tumor antigens (cytokine mediated histamine release)

Question 6

Which cancer treatments commonly cause pruritis?

Answer 6

Molecularly targeted therapies (EGFR inhibitors, TKI’s, BRAF inhibitors, Immune checkpoint inhibitors)