title: Investigation of dermatology life quality index and serum prolactin and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels in patients with chronic urticaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic urticaria (CU) is known to be one of the most disturbing diseases which significantly affect the quality of life. Prolactin (PRL) and DHEA-S (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) are stress-associated hormones in chronic urticaria.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we measured DHEA-S and prolactin levels of CU patients, compared them with healthy subjects and evaluated the association between disease status and serum levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma DHEA-S and serum PRL concentrations were measured in 48 CU patients and 31 healthy subjects. CU activity was assessed with the use of the symptom scores recommended with EAACI/GALEN/EDF guidelines. All the patients participating in this study were evaluated by means of Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). With respect to DLQI and clinical activity scores, plasma DHEA-S and serum prolactin levels were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median plasma concentration of DHEA-S was significantly lower in CU patients as compared with healthy subjects (p = 0.026). DHEA-S levels of females were significantly lower than males (p = 0.001). Mean PRL values of the patients were higher than the controls, but not statistically significant (p = 0.619) and there was a statistically signifcant inverse correlation with DHEA-S levels (p = 0.04, r = -0.298). Therewas a significant correlation between DLQI and clinical disease activity (p < 0.001, r = 0.748).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The exact relation of hormones to CU pathogenesis remains to be determined by further clinical studies. In addition, therapies aiming to increase DHEA-S and decrease PRL may be subject to trial in CU.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ucmak
authors.forename: Meltem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akkurt
authors.forename: Feyzullah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Uçmak
authors.forename: Gülten
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toprak
authors.forename: Gurbet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arica
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014581:Urticaria / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D011388:Prolactin