AUTHOR=Muraoka Kyoko , Inaba Yutaka , Kayama Koki , Jinnin Masatoshi 
  
TITLE=Antinuclear antibody positivity rate and clinical characteristics in prurigo chronica multiformis: a retrospective study of 26 patients
  
JOURNAL=Journal of Cutaneous Immunology and Allergy
  
VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2026
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/journal-of-cutaneous-immunology-and-allergy/articles/10.3389/jcia.2026.17229
  
DOI=10.3389/jcia.2026.17229
  
ISSN=2574-4593
  
ABSTRACT=BackgroundPrurigo chronica multiformis is a refractory chronic pruritic dermatosis that predominantly affects older adults, but the frequency and significance of antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity remain unclear.MethodsThis retrospective single-center study included 26 patients with prurigo chronica multiformis treated between March 2016 and April 2025. Patients were divided into two groups according to ANA status, and baseline characteristics, allergic background, laboratory investigations, extent of skin involvement, and responsiveness to topical corticosteroids were compared.ResultsFive of 26 patients (19.2%) were positive for ANA. Among evaluable patients, all patients in the positive group showed sensitization to at least one allergen, which was more frequent than in the negative group (100% vs. 37.5%, p = 0.035). The median peripheral blood eosinophil percentage was significantly lower in the positive group (4.0% vs. 8.0%, p = 0.031). No significant differences were observed in the eosinophil count, total IgE levels, extent of skin involvement, or responsiveness to topical corticosteroids.ConclusionApproximately one-fifth of patients with prurigo chronica multiformis were positive for ANA. ANA-positive patients showed a high rate of allergen sensitization and a lower peripheral blood eosinophil percentage. These findings suggest that prurigo chronica multiformis may include an immunologic subtype in which autoimmunity and allergic inflammation intersect.