title: Increased levels of serum IL-31 in chronic spontaneous urticaria.
abstract: IL-31 represents a novel cytokine involved in pruritic skin diseases including atopic dermatitis (AD). We, therefore, aimed at investigating IL-31 levels in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CU). We included 46 patients with CU, 26 non-atopic skin healthy subjects as negative and 28 patients with AD as positive controls. IL-31 serum levels were analysed using commercial ELISA kit. IL-31 serum levels were higher in patients with CU compared to healthy controls (P < 0.001), but lower compared to patients with AD (P < 0.001). There was no difference in IL-31 serum levels in autologous serum skin test positive or negative CU patients and patients with infectious trigger factors including helicobacter pylori infection. IL-31 serum levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of CU. This is supported by the finding that not all patients with CU respond to antihistamine treatment but to the treatment with immunosuppressive drugs.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Raap
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wieczorek
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gehring
authors.forename: Inga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pauls
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ständer
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kapp
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wedi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D044967:Serum / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D014581:Urticaria / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: C502187:IL31 protein, human; D007378:Interleukins