Neurogenic inflammation

Neurogenic inflammation is inflammation arising from the local release from afferent neurons of inflammatory mediators such as substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide.

This process appears to play an important role in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases including asthma, fibromyalgia, eczema, rosacea, migraine, dystonia and psoriasis.

Noting that botulinum toxin has been shown to have an effect on inhibiting neurogenic inflammation, and that evidence suggests the role of neurogenic inflammation in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, the University of Minnesota has begun a clinical trial to follow up on the observation that dystonia patients treated with botulinum toxin had dramatic improvement in psoriasis symptoms. See: Use of Botulinum Toxin to Treat Psoriasis.

External links

• Bronchial asthma and other neurogenic diseases: migraine, trigeminal neuralgia and epilepsy

• Schön and Boehncke, Psoriasis: Neurogenic inflammation and other mechanisms NEJM 352:1899-1912, Number 18, 2005