title: Evaluation of D-dimer serum levels among patients with chronic urticaria, psoriasis and urticarial vasculitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been demonstrated that neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes, under appropriated stimulus, may express tissue factor and therefore, activate the extrinsic pathway of coagulation. We performed a transversal and case-control study of patients with chronic urticaria and patients with psoriasis, in our outpatient clinic to evaluate the production of D-dimer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate D-dimer serum levels in patients with chronic urticaria and its possible correlation with disease activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted from October 2010 until March 2011. We selected 37 consecutive patients from our Allergy Unit and Psoriasis Unit, and divided them into three groups for statistical analysis: (i) 12 patients with active chronic urticaria (CU); (ii) 10 patients with chronic urticaria under remission and (iii) 15 patients with psoriasis (a disease with skin inflammatory infiltrate constituted by neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes). Another five patients with urticarial vasculitis were allocated in our study, but not included in statistical analysis. The serum levels of D-dimer were measured by Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA), and the result units were given in ng/ml FEU.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with active chronic urticaria had the highest serum levels of D-dimer (p<0.01), when compared to patients with CU under remission and the control group (patients with psoriasis).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with active chronic urticaria have higher serum levels of D-dimer, when compared to patients with chronic urticaria under remission and patients with psoriasis. We found elevated serum levels of D-dimer among patients with urticarial vasculitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo (SP), Brazil. prcriado@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Paulo Ricardo
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Criado
authors.forename: Lidi Che Leon
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Antinori
authors.forename: Celina Wakisaka
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Maruta
authors.forename: Vitor Manoel Silva dos
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Reis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood*; D014581:Urticaria / Q000097:blood*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D