Markers of systemic inflammation in delayed pressure urticaria.

BACKGROUND: We have previously reported, increased plasma IL-6 concentration in chronic urticaria. In addition, it has been suggested that IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) may be useful markers of the disease activity.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a systemic inflammation is present in delayed pressure urticaria (DPU).

METHODS: Plasma IL-6 and serum CRP concentrations, biomarkers of acute phase response, were measured in DPU, and the healthy subjects matched by age, gender, and BMI using ELISA method.

RESULTS: DPU patients showed significantly higher plasma IL-6 and serum CRP concentrations than the healthy subjects.

CONCLUSIONS: Similarly to the known locally increased IL-6 activity in DPU lesions, the elevated circulating levels of IL-6 and CRP have been currently found in DPU. This indicates that the disease induces a systemic inflammatory process, termed the acute phase response.