title: Parameters associated with chronic spontaneous urticaria duration and severity: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although some authors have already evaluated the predictive value of various parameters regarding the duration of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), it remains uncertain which ones have importance in clinical practice as prognostic factors that indeed enable prediction. Similarly, some authors have investigated parameters that might be related to severe cases of CSU. However, the results of studies evaluating several parameters as markers of disease severity are fragmented. Thus, we performed a systematic review to summarize the findings of studies investigating the parameters associated with CSU duration and severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two authors independently searched PubMed until June 2012 for observational retrospective or prospective studies addressing clinical or laboratory parameters associated with disease duration or severity in CSU patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found 1,136 potentially relevant published papers related to the subject, 34 of which were included in the systematic review. A total of 16, 6 and 12 articles evaluated CSU parameters on severity, duration or both, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that disease severity might predict CSU duration. Similarly, evidence suggests that plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, D-dimer and C-reactive protein may function as markers of CSU severity.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rabelo-Filardi
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Daltro-Oliveira
authors.forename: Régis A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Campos
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014581:Urticaria / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D002097:C-Reactive Protein