Rachel Golpanian

• Bachelor of Arts
• Research Associate at University of Miami

Both itch and pain are common symptoms and cause morbidities in AD patients. AD patients may show neuronal sensitization to itch and pain. Itch sensitization is associated with alloknesis (phenomena in which normal or non-pruritic stimuli are perceived as itchy) and hyperknesis (excessive itch perception to pruritic stimuli); while pain neuronal se...

Drug-induced pruritus is a phenomenon in which the ingestion of a particular drug results in the sensation of pruritus without coexisting skin lesions. It is a common medical problem which accounts for about 5% of drug adverse reactions. Drugs most commonly known to cause this adverse event include mu-opioids, chloroquine, and hydroxyethyl starch....

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease that affects millions of patients worldwide and is characterized by debilitating itch. The pathophysiology of pruritus in AD consists of multiple players, including pruritogens, unique receptors, and ion channels found on unmyelinated C-nerve fibers. The sensation of the itch is also perpetuated by the disrupted...

Background: A body of research has examined the role of fatty acid (FA), vitamin, and mineral supplementation as adjunctive treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD); however, results are conflicting and concrete recommendations are lacking. The objective of this study is to highlight the role of these nutrients in alleviating AD severity and provide t...

There is a need for new topical antipruritics that are effective on many types of itch. This study examined the antipruritic efficacy of a new formulation of topical acetaminophen. In vitro skin permeability studies showed that 2.5% and 5% formulations are able to rapidly deliver an adequate amount of the drug into the skin. In a double-blind, vehi...

Atopic dermatitis is a notoriously itchy condition that has profound effects on patient quality of life. The pathophysiology of this disease involves immune dysregulation, genetics, and environmental triggers contributing to barrier dysfunction characteristic of this disease. With advances in knowledge of atopic dermatitis pathophysiology, novel dr...

Background: Pruritus is a debilitating symptom of cholestatic diseases such as primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis and often results in major reduction in quality of life for afflicted patients. Classic treatment options for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus include antihistamines, bile acid resins, serotonin reuptak...

Although psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have been classically considered to be diseases of the skin and joints, respectively, emerging evidence suggests that a combination of innate and environmental factors creates widespread immune dysfunction, affecting multiple organ systems. A greater understanding of the pathogenesis of psoriasis and...

Aim The role of nutrition in preventing atopic diseases including atopic dermatitis has recently gained interest in the medical community. Caregivers of infants and children at an increased risk for developing atopic dermatitis often employ exclusion diets or other measures in hopes of preventing the development of this burdensome disease. This pap...

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects 5-10% of adults and 9-18% of children and its pathology is rooted in the Th-2-mediated immune response. Dupilumab is a fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody that targets the IL-4 receptor alpha subunit that is endogenously bound by the Th-2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13. Successful c...

Abstract is missing (Short communication)

Introduction Chronic pruritus is non-histaminergic and mediated through a complex interplay of peripheral and central immune and neural pathways. Significant developments in the understanding of chronic pruritus have emerged and paved the way for new, emerging therapies. Areas covered This review details the emerging drug landscape for chronic pru...

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review was to explore mechanisms, causes, and therapies of itchy conditions involving organs beyond the skin including the eyes, ears, nose, and genital region. Recent findings: Conditions which cause itch in these locations vary from skin diseases that extend to these areas (i.e., atopic dermatitis, seborr...

Introduction Pruritus is a debilitating symptom that significantly affects the quality of life of patients who suffer from it. Many current and emerging systemic treatments targeting the neural system have been successful in treating itch of various underlying etiologies. Areas covered A complete search of the PUBMED and Google Scholar databases w...

Chronic itch is a common condition that affects the quality of life of many patients and can often be difficult to treat. When managing a patient with itch, the first step requires identification of the underlying cause, which may be dermatologic or nondermatologic in nature. The process begins with a thorough history and physical examination, whic...

Chronic itch can be a debilitating medical condition with clinical characteristics and impact akin to chronic pain. Itch severity is subjective and clinicians depend on patient reported numerical ratings scales (NRS); most commonly 24‐hour worst itch (WI‐NRS) has been validated including large scale studies. WI‐NRS does not attempt to take into acc...

Research suggests that itch and psychiatric diseases are intimately related. In efforts to examine the prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses in patients with chronic itch not due to psychogenic causes, we conducted a retrospective chart review of 502 adult patients diagnosed with chronic itch in an outpatient dermatology clinic specializing in itch a...

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disease characterized by chronic widespread pain and tenderness for at least 3 months and is associated with various dermatologic symptoms including itch. This study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of itch in female FM patients and whether or not it correlated to their pain. Our data revealed that 60% of FM pa...

Crossfit is a popular fitness movement that has been categorized as one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Crossfit athletes who undergo extensive, high intensity training involving frictional activities and heavy weight bearing are vulnerable to skin manifestations as a result of traumatic, allergic, infectious, or environmental etiologie...

Purpose Psychological stress and ensuing modulation of the immune and nervous systems can have a significant impact on itch. Stress can exacerbate itch and vice versa, resulting in a vicious cycle that can greatly impair a patient's quality of life. This review summarizes the association between stress and itch, elucidates the mechanism by which th...

The use of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy in the treatment of a variety of dermatologic conditions has increased in use since the early 1990’s. In particular, it has become more popular in the treatment of disorders of chronic venous insufficiency, including reticular veins and telangiectasias. In the past, sclerotherapy and traditional lasers...

Objectives Cardiac manifestations of neonatal lupus (NL) have been associated with significant morbidity and mortality; however, there is minimal information on long-term outcomes of affected individuals. This study was initiated to evaluate the presence of and the risk factors associated with cardiac dysfunction in NL after birth in multiple age g...

Mosquito bites are the most common cause of acute itch in humans. The pathophysiology of itch in mosquito bites is not well understood, but 3 mechanisms have been hypothesized. These mechanisms are based on the assumption that mosquito salivary components are somehow implicated in the pruritus that results after a bite. In the first mechanism, sali...

Background There are no longitudinal studies regarding the long term cardiac health of children with cardiac manifestations of neonatal lupus (NL). This study was performed to evaluate risk factors for morbidity and provide evidence-based guidance regarding the course of cardiac NL. Methods Echocardiograms throughout life were evaluated in 240 ind...