Increased concentration of beta-endorphin in the sera of patients with severe atopic dermatitis.

Serum beta-endorphin was measured by radioimmunoassay in 25 patients with atopic dermatitis and 100 healthy subjects. The neuropeptide was found to be markedly (p < 0.001) increased in patients with atopic dermatitis (9.

Increased concentration of beta-endorphin in sera of patients with psoriasis and other inflammatory dermatoses.

Serum beta-endorphin was quantified by radioimmunoassay in 71 patients with psoriasis vulgaris, other chronic inflammatory skin diseases with T-cell infiltrates [atopic dermatitis (n = 25), and systemic sclerosis (n = 34)], and 100 healthy subjects. The neuropeptide was found to be markedly (P < 0.001) increased in patients with psoriasis (14.

Neuropeptides in psoriasis: possible role of beta-endorphin in the pathomechanism of the disease.

Background: An increased concentration of neuropeptides in psoriatic lesional skin may be responsible for alterations in the neurogenic erythematous response and transmission of stimuli through sensory nerve fibers (sensation of pruritus).

Methods: Increasing doses of capsaicin from 0.125 to 4 micrograms/cm2 were applied to nonlesional psoriatic skin to establish the minimal dose that induced the substance P-mediated neurogenic response in 30 patients with psoriasis.