title: Urticaria pigmentosa associated with acute stress and lesional skin mast-cell expression of CRF-R1.
abstract: A 38-year-old woman presented with a pronounced increase in symptoms and proliferation of urticaria pigmentosa (UP) after acute psychological stress, which was quantified using the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Immunohistochemical examination of a skin biopsy from a new UP lesion showed a large number of activated mast cells expressing corticotrophin-releasing factor receptor-1 (CRF-R1) and there was high serum CRF. This is the first documented report to our knowledge of UP worsening associated with acute stress, possibly through activation of skin mast-cell CRF-R1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA. theoharis.theoharides@tufts.edu
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Theoharides
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kempuraj
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marchand
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tzianoumis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vasiadi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katsarou-Katsari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makris
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kalogeromitros
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D014582:Urticaria Pigmentosa / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1
chemical_list: D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1