title: Increased concentration of platelet-derived chemokines in serum of patients with delayed pressure urticaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Delayed pressure urticaria (DPU) is a distinct form of urticaria, characterized by marked dermal swelling, deep inflammatory infiltrate and systemic symptoms. Little is known about inflammatory mediators involved in this disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate secretion of platelet-specific chemokines, platelet factor 4 (PF-4) and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) during the course of DPU.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma concentrations of PF-4 and beta-TG were measured in eight adult DPU patients and in 15, age- and sex-matched, healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma PF-4 and beta-TG concentration scores were significantly higher in the DPU group as compared with the control subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study, as well as an earlier contribution, suggest that distinct platelet activity may be identified in different types of urticaria. In contrast to chronic idiopathic urticaria, chronic urticaria with a positive response to autologous serum skin testing, and acute urticaria, delayed pressure urticaria may be associated with increased secretion of platelet chemokines, similar to that observed in cold urticaria.
authors.affiliation: Chair and Clinical Department of Internal Diseases, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. kasperska@plusnet.pl
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasperska-Zajac
authors.forename: Zenon
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Brzoza
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rogala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000097:blood; D014581:Urticaria / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D018925:Chemokines; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin; D010978:Platelet Factor 4