Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association
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Pruritus in burn wounds is a common symptom affecting patient rehabilitation. Over the last decades, there has been a resurgence of interest into more effective strategies to combat this distressing problem; nevertheless, no reports exist in the literature to propose pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the generation and persistence of pruritic symptoms in the late phases of burns rehabilitation. ⋯ This work updates the conceptual framework for the pathophysiology of burns itch by embracing the contribution of the central nervous system in the maintenance of symptoms into a chronic state. The proposed pathophysiological model paves new avenues in burns pruritus research and is likely to have implications in the quest for more effective therapeutic regimens in clinical practice.