title: Cellular adhesion molecules in chronic urticaria: modulation of serum levels occurs during levocetirizine treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some antihistamines are capable of reducing levels of adhesion molecules in wealing tissues of patients with chronic urticaria (CU).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if 6 weeks of therapy with levocetirizine 5 mg once daily would also induce any decrease in serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1) or P-selectin in subjects with CU and chronic autoimmune urticaria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six patients with CU (18 with positive and 18 with negative autologous serum skin test) were studied, together with 10 control healthy subjects. All patients received levocetirizine 5 mg daily. Serum soluble cellular adhesion molecule (CAM) levels were determined by immunoenzymatic assay before and after the end of the study period. Disease activity was recorded according to the EAACI/GA(2)LEN/EDF scoring system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After levocetirizine therapy CAM levels decreased in patients with CU, significantly in the cases of ELAM-1 and P-selectin. Patients' clinical scores improved during regular antihistamine therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levocetirizine 5 mg daily demonstrated a broad anti-inflammatory effect in patients with CU. The significant decrease in serum levels of ELAM-1 and P-selectin might reflect the inhibitory activity on neutrophil rolling and extravasation towards inflamed skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatological Sciences, University of Florence, Via della Pergola 58, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caproni
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Volpi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giomi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Torchia
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Del Bianco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fabbri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019040:E-Selectin; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D019007:P-Selectin; D010879:Piperazines; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; C472067:levocetirizine; D017332:Cetirizine