Plasma D-dimer as a biomarker of chronic urticaria treatment

Abstract

Background Under the appropriated stimulus, it has been demonstrated that neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes may express tissue factor and therefore activate the extrinsic pathway of coagulation. Objective To assess the plasma d-dimer (DD) level in patients with chronic urticaria during exacerbation and remission and correlate this level with the severity of the disease. Patients and methods This case–control study included 30 patients with clinically proved Chronic Urticaria (CU) (group I) and 15 healthy control (group II). The plasma levels of DD were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The level of plasma DD in active patients ranged from 400 to 1950 ng/ml, with median of 1050 ng/ml. The level of DD in the plasma of controls ranged from 210 to 600 ng/ml, with median of 400 ng/ ml. There was a highly statistically significant difference between cases and control in DD level. Patients with active chronic urticaria had the highest plasma levels of DD (P<0.01) when compared with patients with CU under remission and the control group. Conclusion Plasma DD level could be an indicator of the severity of CU as it positively correlates with it. It is also a good prognostic marker as its level decreases after the treatment or remission.

Keywords

• chronic urticaria
• d-dimer
• omalizumab