Fibrin degradation products, D-dimer and CRP for assessment of disease activity of chronic urticaria

Currently, there is no reliable biomarker for evaluation of disease severity and activity of chronic urticaria (CU).

Markers of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis are elevated in severe cases of CU.

Plasma fibrin degradation products (FDP), d-dimer and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in 82 patients with CU and 37 patients with acute urticaria, idiopathic angioedema (AE) or inducible types of urticaria (IU).

The levels of FDP in patients with CU were higher than those in patients with IU, but no other differences in FDP, d-dimer and CRP were observed among patients with different types of urticaria.

In 37 patients with CU, levels of all these parameters reduced as their disease condition improved, while they increased when the disease became aggravated.

The study authors concluded that the measurement of plasma FDP, d-dimer and serum CRP may be useful for the assessment of disease activity of CU. Asthma is also associated with a procoagulant state in the bronchoalveolar space (Blood, 01/2012).

References:

Coagulation/fibrinolysis and inflammation markers are associated with disease activity in patients with chronic urticaria. S. Takahagi et al. Allergy, 2009.
Image source: Urticaria, Wikipedia, public domain.