Abstract
Background. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a powerful enhancer of vascular permeability and inflammatory response; however its significance in chronic urticaria is poorly recognised. Aim. To compare free circulating levels of VEGF and its soluble receptors (sVEGFR1 and VEGFR2) in patients with different forms of chronic urticaria. Methods. The concentrations of VEGF and its receptors in plateletpoor plasma (PPP)/plasma were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in chronic urticaria: (1) chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) with positive autologous serum skin test (ASST), (2) CSU with negative response to ASST, (3) CSU with concomitant euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis (CSU/Hashimoto), (4) delayed pressure urticaria (DPU), and the healthy subjects. Results. There were no significant differences in VEGF concentration in PPP between CSU groups and the healthy subjects. Contrary, VEGF concentration was significantly higher in DPU and CSU/Hashimoto patients as compared with the healthy subjects and CSU groups. Furthermore, VEGF value in CSU/Hashimoto patients during the remission was similar to that of the active period and significantly higher than the healthy subjects; VEGF concentration was significantly correlated with TSH. Plasma concentrations of sVEGF1 and sVEGF2 were similar in chronic urticaria patients and the healthy subjects. Conclusions. Increased free circulating VEGF concentration may result from the urticarial process itself as well as concomitant Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Highlights
Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is characterised by basophiles/mast cells activation accompanied by systemic inflammatory response and neuroimmunendocrine dysfunction and coagulation/fibrinolysis activation [1,2,3,4,5]
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is released by mast cells and other cells associated with chronic urticaria and stimulates mast cell migration [12], and its synthesis is induced by histamine [13]
There were no significant differences in VEGF concentration between chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU)/autologous serum skin test (ASST)(−), CSU/ASST(+), and the healthy subjects (Table 2)
Summary
Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is characterised by basophiles/mast cells activation accompanied by systemic inflammatory response and neuroimmunendocrine dysfunction and coagulation/fibrinolysis activation [1,2,3,4,5]. Urticarial wheals/angioedema result from vascular dilatation and leakage of fluid into the skin in response to histamine and other mediators released from different cells. It has been suggested that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a role in the pathogenesis of chronic urticaria [10]. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a powerful enhancer of vascular permeability and inflammatory response; its significance in chronic urticaria is poorly recognised. There were no significant differences in VEGF concentration in PPP between CSU groups and the healthy subjects. VEGF concentration was significantly higher in DPU and CSU/Hashimoto patients as compared with the healthy subjects and CSU groups. VEGF value in CSU/Hashimoto patients during the remission was similar to that of the active period and significantly higher than the healthy subjects; VEGF concentration was significantly correlated with TSH. Increased free circulating VEGF concentration may result from the urticarial process itself as well as concomitant Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
