BACKGROUND The platelet parameters and C-reactive protein (CRP) are markers reflecting a systemic inflammatory response. Among those, CRP is one of the major proteins helpful in determination of severity/activity of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). AIM To determine relationships between platelet activation indices and serum concentration of CRP, the best marker of acute phase response, an...

Introduction Oxidative stress is a result of an imbalance between endogenous production of free reactive oxygen species and reduced effectiveness of antioxidant defence mechanisms. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) are compounds formed by transformation of macromolecules, including proteins which can serve as markers of oxidative stress and i...

BACKGROUND Many physicians believe that the most effective way to treat chronic urticaria is to take a nonsedating second-generation H1 -antihistamine in the morning and a sedating first-generation H1 -antihistamine, usually hydroxyzine, at night to enhance sleep. But is this belief well founded? OBJECTIVES To test this belief by comparing the effectiveness and prevalence of unwanted sedative...

BACKGROUND Tick bite-induced galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) IgE and subsequent ingestion of red meat may cause delayed severe allergic reactions including urticaria, gastrointestinal symptoms or anaphylaxis. We tested the hypothesis that increased levels of IgE to α-Gal due to tick bites and the subsequent ingestion of red meat or meat products may possibly be an un(der)recognized cause of c...

BACKGROUND In chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) mast cell activation together with inflammatory changes in the skin are well documented and may play an important role in mechanisms of tissue oedema. OBJECTIVES To confirm and extend these observations by measuring microvascular markers, leucocytes and mast cell numbers in lesional and uninvolved skin and to compare findings with a control gr...

BACKGROUND Omalizumab is indicated to treat chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) refractory to antihistamines. We aim to describe the experience of our department in the treatment of CSU with omalizumab. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective review of the clinical records of patients. RESULTS Six patients (5 females, median age 33 years) treated with omalizumab for a median of 17.5 months were...

There was no previous population-based study on the comparison of the risk of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) between autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) and age- and gender-matched controls. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of CSU after diagnosis of AITD using national registry data from Korea. The secondary objective was to evaluate other risk factors of CSU. Ba...

Aim: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a skin disease with high rates of comorbid psychopathology. The aim this study was to assess the relationship between CSU and anxiety, depression, stress life satisfaction. Materials methods: A total 204 participants were included in study, 101 them patients 103 healthy control group. Demographic clinical characteristics obtained by questionnaire crea...

Background The purpose of this study was to identify chronic urticaria (CU) etiologies and treatment modalities in Ecuador. We propose that the sample distribution fits the expected one, and that there is an association between the etiology and its treatment. Methods We performed a retrospective study involving 112 patients diagnosed with CU using a Checklist for a complete chronic urticaria ...

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a complex idiopathic disease of the skin with various cellular infiltrations. Although mast cells are key effector cells in the pathogenesis of CSU, CD4+ T helper 2 cells also have particular roles in the development and maintenance of CSU. Periostin is known as a downstream molecule of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, key cytokines of type 2 immune responses...