ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Dermatovenereology
doi: 10.25005/2074-0581-2026-28-3-605-623
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF ITCHING AND SKIN LESIONS EXPERIMENTALLY AND IN PATIENTS WITH DYSTROPHIC EPIDERMOLYSIS BULLOSA AS AN INDICATOR OF ANTHROPOGENIC POLLUTION OF THE HABITAT

M.M. SHERMATOVA1, M.N. GADZHIMURADOV1, I.E. TORSHINA2

1Dagestan State Medical Academy, Makhachkala, Russian Federation
2Smolensk State Medical University, Smolensk, Russian Federation

Objective: To assess the effects of anthropogenic chemical factors on the skin of laboratory animals and the clinical manifestations of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB).

Methods: The study of laboratory white mice (without skin pathology, aged 9-11 weeks) lasted six months. Each of the 4 study groups consisted of 14 rodents: 10 females and 4 males. Each group was exposed to a specific agrochemical pesticide, and itching severity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The DEB group consisted of 35 individuals, conditionally divided into subgroups based on the environmental conditions of their place of residence. Itching in these patients was assessed using a five-point Likert scale.

Results: In the experiment, anthropogenic chemical agents caused dermatitis, severe complications, and skin itching in white mice. Itching intensity also increased sharply in patients with DEB in areas of environmental stress and disappeared or significantly decreased in areas of environmental comfort. Its severity correlated with the severity of the skin process. Persistent skin itching was accompanied by chronic erosive-ulcerative skin defects in patients with DEB, while its absence signaled their imminent regeneration. In areas with increased exposure to anthropogenic factors, a Birmingham Severity Index was increased in patients with DEB, and symptomatic therapy was effective only in favorable environmental living conditions.

Conclusion: Patients with DEB should avoid living in environmentally unfavorable areas, as the agents present there negate the effects of therapeutic and preventive measures, provoke skin itching, and hinder epithelialization of erosions/ulcers

Keywords: Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, plant protection products, agrochemicals, pesticides, mouse models.

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Authors' information:

Shermatova Milana Maratovna,
Postgraduate Student at the Department of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology, Dagestan State Medical University
Researcher ID: OAL-0523-2025
Scopus ID: 58165379500
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5119-5210
SPIN: 9376-8335
Author ID: 1228999
Е-mail: xakerov72@mail.ru

Gadzhimuradov Marat Nurmagomedovich,
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology, Dagestan State Medical University
Researcher ID: OAJ-6496-2025
Scopus ID: 57208885644
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3663-3235
SPIN: 9611-5619
Author ID: 132811
Е-mail: gabenu@mail.ru

Torshina Irina Evgenievna,
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases with the Course of Medical Cosmetology, Smolensk State Medical University
Researcher ID: ABE-8437-202
Scopus ID: 57214321337
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6562-0556
SPIN: 1222-6560
Author ID: 736731
E-mail: irina-torsina@ya.ru

Information about support in the form of grants, equipment, medications

The authors did not receive financial support from manufacturers of medicines and medical equipment

Conflicts of interest: No conflict

Address for correspondence:

Gadzhimuradov Marat Nurmagomedovich
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology, Dagestan State Medical University

367000, Russian Federation, Makhachkala, Lenin Sq.,1

Tel.: +7 (903) 4283764

Е-mail: gabenu@mail.ru


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