eISSN: 2299-0046
ISSN: 1642-395X
Advances in Dermatology and Allergology/Postępy Dermatologii i Alergologii
Current issue Archive Manuscripts accepted About the journal Editorial board Reviewers Abstracting and indexing Subscription Contact Instructions for authors Publication charge Ethical standards and procedures
Editorial System
Submit your Manuscript
SCImago Journal & Country Rank
4/2020
vol. 37
 
Share:
Share:
Original paper

Participation of the coagulation system and fibrinolysis as well as selected biomarkers in pathogenesis of chronic urticaria with various activity degree

Aleksander Obtułowicz
1
,
Kamila Migacz-Gruszka
1
,
Magdalena Pirowska
1
,
Karolina Basta-Klonowska
1
,
Anna Wojas-Pelc
1

  1. Department of Dermatology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
Adv Dermatol Allergol 2020; XXXVII (4): 608–612
Online publish date: 2020/09/02
Article file
- Participation.pdf  [0.14 MB]
Get citation
 
 

Introduction

Chronic urticaria is an etiopathologically complex disease process in which chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and chronic inducible urticaria are distinguished [13].

Although about 2% of the European population suffers from this disease, its etiopathogenesis still remains unknown [1, 3, 4]. There are some works indicating a significant participation of vitamin D in the etiopathogenesis of urticaria. Furthermore, in 40–50% of patients with CSU on the basis of the positive result of the autologous serum skin test (ASST), an autoimmunological background of the disease is diagnosed [5, 6]. Moreover, numerous test results confirm involvement of the coagulation system/fibrinolysis and non-infectious inflammatory factor in the pathomechanism of CSU [1, 714].

Aim

The aim of the study was to determine whether C-reactive protein (CRP), vitamin D, coagulation and fibrinolysis pathway as well as mean platelet volume (MPV) may play a role in pathogenesis and contribute to the severity of chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Material and methods

One hundred and forty-two patients (including 108 women and 34 men) with CSU in the active phase at the age from 19 to 87 were qualified for the study. CSU diagnosis was based on the medical history and clinical picture of skin lesions. The active phase of the urticaria was defined as the presence of more than 5 hives that occurred within 7 days before the beginning of the study. What is more, all study participants were instructed not to use any oral antihistamines, corticosteroids or antithrombotic therapy for at least 2 weeks before the beginning of the study. In each patient, on the basis of the results of consultations (dental, laryngological, urological and gynaecological), the presence of latent inflammatory foci was excluded. On the basis of the imaging tests, thromboembolism of the lower limbs was excluded in patients with higher values of D-dimers.

The activity of urticaria was assessed using the UAS-7 scale, assigning the obtained results to the following 4 groups: urticaria with a minimal course 1–6, mild 7–15, medium 16–27 and severe 28–42, according to the guidelines of the EAACI/GA(2)LEN/EDF/WAO [15, 16]. ASST test was performed in all study participants. A venous blood sample from cubital fossa was taken for analysis of the following variables: complete blood count, electrolytes (Na, K), CRP, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, γ-glutamyl transferase (GGTP), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), vitamin D, D-dimer and fibrinogen levels.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was based on the Statistica program (basic statistics, Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney test, Spearman correlation, Anova test).

Results

During the performed study, the average UAS-7 value in 142 subjects was 19.06.

The mean values of UAS-7 in particular groups were distributed in the following way: group 1 – 4.11; group 2 – 11.11; group 3 – 21.02; and group 4 – 32.36 (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Distribution of the degree of activity of urticaria in the examined groups of patients

/f/fulltexts/PDIA/41616/PDIA-37-98270-g001_min.jpg

In the examined group, a statistically significant difference between groups with various activity of urticaria (defined as UAS-7 value) in D-dimer concentration average values (p < 0.05) was observed (Figure 2). We did not observe any statistically significant correlation between activity of urticaria (UAS-7 value) and fibrinogen as well as D-dimer concentration. However, a statistically significant negative correlation between activity of urticaria and vitamin D concentration (p < 0.001) was noted (Figure 3).

Figure 2

D-dimer concentration in four groups in relation to the degree of urticaria activity

/f/fulltexts/PDIA/41616/PDIA-37-98270-g002_min.jpg
Figure 3

Vitamin D concentration in four groups in relation to the degree of urticaria activity

/f/fulltexts/PDIA/41616/PDIA-37-98270-g003_min.jpg

Ninety-two (65%) study participants had positive ASST tests and 50 (35%) were ASST negative tested.

In the individuals with a positive ASST test, a statistically non-significant value of the UAS-7 scale (p = 0.58) and statistically non-significant higher vitamin D concentration (p = 0.305) were found as compared to patients with a negative ASST result (Figures 4 and 5).

Figure 4

Activity of urticaria in the group of ASST positive and negative patients

/f/fulltexts/PDIA/41616/PDIA-37-98270-g004_min.jpg
Figure 5

Vitamin D concentration in the group of ASST positive and negative patients

/f/fulltexts/PDIA/41616/PDIA-37-98270-g005_min.jpg

No significant correlation between the mean MPV values (p = 0.88816) and the PLT number (p = 0.935136) as well as the UAS-7 value in the examined groups was confirmed.

In the examined material, no statistically significant increase (p = 0.16) in fibrinogen concentration with the increased activity of urticaria was observed (Figure 6).

Figure 6

Fibrinogen concentration in four groups in relation to the degree of urticaria activity

/f/fulltexts/PDIA/41616/PDIA-37-98270-g006_min.jpg

There was no statistically significant correlation between CRP concentration and activity of urticaria (p = 0.14).

Discussion

Our aim was to determine whether some factors may play a role in pathogenesis as well as contribute to the severity of CSU. We have noticed a statistically significant negative relationship between the urticaria active score (UAS) and serum level of vitamin D. We have observed the lowest serum level of vitamin D in patients from group 4 (with the highest UAS), which is consistent with the recent studies [1720]. However, Thorp et al. have not observed a marked association between activity of urticaria and vitamin D serum level. On the basis of analysis of connections between D-dimer, fibrinogen concentration and UAS we have shown a significant difference between groups with various activity of urticaria in D-dimer concentration average values. Moreover, we have observed a positive correlation between urticaria active score and fibrinogen as well as D-dimer serum level. Nonetheless, statistically significant relationships were not observed. Elevated D-dimer and fibrinogen plasma levels in patients with urticaria suggest activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis cascade. Our results are in line with other studies published recently [14, 2123]. It is well-established that an increased fibrinogen and D-dimer concentration without concomitant thrombosis is, as it has been observed in our present study, connected with activation of the coagulation and fibrinolysis pathway. Such a condition is activated by chronic endothelial vasculitis during the active phase of urticaria and seems to be noteworthy [1, 14]. Taking into consideration previous studies, activation of the coagulation cascade resulting in the generation of thrombin, subsequently activates anti-coagulation and fibrinolysis. Thrombin and other proteins may play a key role in mast cell degranulation and result in urticaria. The exact mechanism how the coagulation, anti-coagulation, fibrinolysis and complement systems act in CSU pathogenesis is required to be expanded further in future studies [2123].

Our results regarding a possible relationship between an inflammation biomarker like CRP and UAS are partly consistent with the recent data [14, 15, 21, 24, 25]. Additionally, in our study we have noticed that CRP tends to have higher values (without any inflammation points in routine imaging like abdominal ultrasonography and chest X-ray) in the relation to the severity of urticaria in groups 1–3 of UAS score. The interpretation of such a finding has been a subject of the debate in many studies published recently, and might be connected with an increased activity of mast cells in urticaria [8, 21]. However, our study might indicate that CRP increase without any present inflammation might be a symptom of active endothelial vasculitis with the forced permeability [14]. It is interesting to note that among patients with a severe form of urticaria we have found an increased fibrinogen and D-dimer concentration concomitant with the decrease of CRP values. This outcome seems to be worth considering. It might indicate that in pathogenesis of the severe form of urticaria, coagulation and fibrinolysis pathway play a greater role than inflammatory disorder like endothelial vasculitis [14, 26, 27]. According to the available data, chronic spontaneous urticaria has an autoimmunological character in over 40–50% of cases [5, 6]. In the present study we have analysed vitamin D concentration and UAS among patients with both negative and positive ASST, which is known as an indicator of chronic autoimmune urticaria. Interestingly, we have shown that the vitamin D serum level was not statistically significantly higher among ASST positive patients in a comparison with ASST negative patients. This result is not consistent with previous data of other authors where there was no relationship between the parameters or, on the other hand, a statistically significant association was observed [17, 28]. ASST positive patients presented a more severe form of urticaria as they had higher UAS-7 values than ASST negative patients. That observation is in line with previously described results [21, 29, 30].

Our results could not confirm the theory that patients with a low vitamin D serum level are predisposed to the development of autoimmune urticaria. However, a series of studies previously reported reduction of urticaria severity due to vitamin D supplementation among ASST positive patients. These results might directly support the involvement of vitamin D in the immune system [17, 3133]. Interestingly, Chen et al. in their study showed that vitamin D inhibits plasma B cells differentiation which also results in suppressing of antibodies secretion [18]. This effect seems to be depending on the number of receptors for vitamin D on lymphocytes B, and, what is more, might be concomitant with an increased activity of previously existing lymphocytes B. This condition might clarify our finding regarding a lower vitamin D level among patients with positive ASST in comparison with ASST negative patients. Furthermore, we have analysed the association between urticaria activity and MPV. Obtained results were not statistically significant corresponding with outcomes of Nishimura et al. [34]. However, in some previous studies this relationship was established, which leaves that matter intriguing [35, 36].

We also have assayed a possible connection between platelet count and severity of urticaria, but no results worth considering were found. In conclusion, in the present study we have observed a statistically significant correlation between urticaria activity and vitamin D as well as a statistically significant difference between groups with various activity of urticaria in D-dimer concentration average values. These results might directly support the possible involvement of both coagulation and fibrinolysis pathway and vitamin D in the urticaria pathomechanism and open new perspectives for a better understanding of the pathogenesis as well as the treatment of the disease. Moreover, our study may in some measure suggest that an increased D-dimer level in patients with severe urticaria should be considered not only as an indicator of its activity. A series of studies previously showed that the elevated D-dimer serum concentration may be regarded as a useful biomarker of worse response to standard treatment by antihistaminic drugs or cyclosporines [7, 37]. Unquestionably, further prospective studies with evaluation of response to the standard treatment in patients with an increased D-dimer level in larger populations conducted at multiple centres are required to expand further our findings.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

1 

Zuberbier T, Aberer W, Asero R, et al. , authors. The EAACI/Ga(2) LEN/EDF/WAO Guideline for the definition, classification, diagnosis, and management of urticaria: the 2013 revision and update. Allergy. 2014. 69:p. 868–87

2 

Magerl M, Altrichter S, Brzozowa E, et al. , authors. The definition, diagnostic testing and management of chronic inducible urticarias. The EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/UNEV consensus recommendations 2016 update and revision. Allergy. 2016. 71:p. 780–802

3 

Zuberbier T, Balke M, Worm M, et al. , authors. Epidemiology of urticaria: a representative cross-sectional population survery. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2010. 35:p. 869–73

4 

Weller K, Maurer M, Grattan C, et al. , authors. ASSURE-CSU: a real world study of burden of disease in patients with symptomatic chronic spontaneous urticarial. Clin Transl Allergy. 2015. 5:p. 29

5 

Konstantinou GN, Asero R, Ferrer M, et al. , authors. EAACI taskforce position paper: evidence for autoimmune urticaria and proposal for defining diagnostic criteria. Allergy. 2013. 68:p. 27–36

6 

Aktar S, Akdeniz N, Ozkol HO, et al. , authors. The relation of autologous serum and plasma skin test results with urticarial activity score, sex, and age in patients with chronic urticaria. Adv Dermatol Allergol. 2015. 32:p. 173–8

7 

Asero R, Marzano AV, Ferrucci S, et al. , authors. D-dimer plasma levels parallel the clinical response to omalizumab in patients with severe chronic spontaneous urticaria. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2017. 172:p. 40–4

8 

Tedeschi A, Kolkhir P, Asero R, et al. , authors. Chronic urticaria and coagulation: pathophysiological and clinical aspects. Allergy. 2014. 69:p. 683–91

9 

Criado PR, Antinori L, Che L, et al. , authors. Evaluation of D-dimer serum levels among patients with chronic urticaria, psoriasis and urticarial vasculitis. An Bras Dermatol. 2013. 88:p. 355–60

10 

Takahagi S, Mihara S, Iwamoto K, et al. , authors. Coagulation/fibrinolysis and inflammation markers aer associated with disease activity in patients with chronic urticaria. Allergy. 2010. 65:p. 649–56

11 

Triwongwaranat D, Kulthanan K, Chularojanamontri L, et al. , authors. Correlation between plasma D-dimer levels and the severity of patients with chronic urticaria. Asia Pac Allergy. 2013. 3:p. 100–5

12 

Asero R , author. D-dimer: a biomarker for antihistamine-resistant chronic urticaria. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013. 132:p. 983–6

13 

Reshef A, Zanichelli A, Longhurst H, et al. , authors. Elevated D-dimers in attacks of hereditary angioedema are not associated with increased thrombotic risk. Allergy. 2015. 70:p. 506–13

14 

Obtułowicz A, Pirowska M, Pastuszczak M, et al. , authors. Coagulation/fibrynolisis and inflammation markers In patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria. Przegl Lek. 2017. 11:p. 565–9

15 

Magerl M, Altrichter S, Borzova E, et al. , authors. The definition, diagnostic testing, and management of chronic inducible urticarias – The EAACI/GA(2) LEN/EDF/UNEV consensus recommendations 2016 update and revision. Allergy. 2016. 71:p. 780–802

16 

Hollis K, Proctor C, McBride D, et al. , authors. Comparison of urticaria activity score over 7 days (UAS7) values obtained from once-daily and twice-daily versions: results from the ASSURE-CSU Study. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2018. 19:p. 267–74

17 

Woo YR, Jung KE, Koo DW, et al. , authors. Vitamin D as a marker for disease severity in chronic urticaria and its possible role in pathogenesis. Ann Dermatol. 2015. 27:p. 423–30

18 

Chen S, Sims GP, Chen XX, et al. , authors. Modulatory effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on human B cell differentiation. J Immunol. 2007. 179:p. 1634–47

19 

Movahedi M, Tavakol M, Hirbod-Mobarakeh A, et al. , authors. Vitamin D deficiency in chronic idiopathic urticaria. Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2015. 14:p. 222–7

20 

Quirk SK, Rainwater E, Shure AK, et al. , authors. Vitamin D in atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria and allergic contact dermatitis. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2016. 12:p. 839–47

21 

Kolkhir P, André F, Church MK, et al. , authors. Potential blood biomarkers in chronic spontaneous urticaria. Clin Exp Allergy. 2017. 47:p. 19–36

22 

Baek YS, Jeon J, Kim JH, et al. , authors. Severity of acute and chronic urticaria correlates with D-dimer level, but not C-reactive protein or total IgE. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2014. 39:p. 795–800

23 

Wang D, Tang H, Shen Y, et al. , authors. Activation of the blood coagulation system in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria. Clin Lab. 2015. 61:p. 1283–8

24 

Kasperska-Zajac A, Sztylc J, Machura E, et al. , authors. Plasma IL-6 concentration correlates with clinical disease activity and serum C-reactive protein concentration in chronic urticaria patients. Clin Exp Allergy. 2011. 41:p. 1386–91

25 

Renné T , author. The procoagulant and proinflammatory plasma contact system. Semin Immunopathol. 2012. 34:p. 31–41

26 

Baek YS, Jeon J, Kim JH, et al. , authors. Severity of acute and chronic urticaria correlates with D-dimer level, but not C-reactive protein or total IgE. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2014. 39:p. 795–800

27 

Cugno M, Tedeschi A, Borghi A, et al. , authors. Activation of blood coagulation in two prototypic autoimmune skin diseases: a possible link with thrombotic risk. PLoS One. 2015. 10:p. e0129456

28 

Chandrashekar L, Rajappa M, Munisamy M, et al. , authors. 25-Hydroxy vitamin D levels in chronic urticaria and its correlation with disease severity from a tertiary care centre in South India. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2014. 52:p. 115–8

29 

Magen E, Mishal J, Zeldin Y, et al. , authors. Increased mean platelet volume and C-reactive protein levels in patients with chronic urticaria with a positive autologous serum skin test. Am J Med Sci. 2010. 339:p. 504–8

30 

Grattan CE, Dawn G, Gibbs S, et al. , authors. Blood basophil numbers in chronic ordinary urticaria and healthy controls: diurnal variation, infiuence of loratadine and prednisolone and relationship to disease activity. Clin Exp Allergy. 2003. 33:p. 337–41

31 

Rorie A, Goldner WS, Lyden E, et al. , authors. Beneficial role for supplemental vitamin D3 treatment in chronic urticaria: a randomized study. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2014. 112:p. 376–82

32 

Boonpiyathad T, Pradubpongsa P, Sangasapaviriya A , authors. Vitamin d supplements improve urticaria symptoms and quality of life in chronic spontaneous urticaria patients: a prospective case-control study. Dermatoendocrinology. 2014. 6:p. e29727

33 

Myszka M, Klinger M , authors. The immunomodulatory role of vitamin D. Postepy Hig Med Dosw. 2014. 68:p. 865–78

34 

Nishimura K, Kuzume K, Kagata Y, et al. , authors. Evaluation of dysfunction in blood coagulation in children with urticaria. Arerugi. 2016. 65:p. 118–22

35 

Confino-Cohen R, Chodick G, Shalev V, et al. , authors. Chronic urticaria and autoimmunity: associations found in a large population study. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012. 129:p. 1307–13

36 

Isiksacan N, Koser M, Cemsitoglu F, et al. , authors. Platelet and other hemostatic characteristics in patients with chronic urticaria. Angiology. 2015. 66:p. 387–91

37 

Kolkhir P, Pogorelov D, Olisova O , authors. CRP, D-dimer, fibrinogen and ESR as predictive markers of response to standard doses of levocetirizine in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria. Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017. 49:p. 189–92

Copyright: © 2020 Termedia Sp. z o. o. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material, provided the original work is properly cited and states its license.
 
Quick links
© 2024 Termedia Sp. z o.o.
Developed by Bentus.