title: Analysis of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor and its soluble receptors in patients with different forms of chronic urticaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a powerful enhancer of vascular permeability and inflammatory response; however its significance in chronic urticaria is poorly recognised.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare free circulating levels of VEGF and its soluble receptors (sVEGFR1 and VEGFR2) in patients with different forms of chronic urticaria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The concentrations of VEGF and its receptors in plateletpoor plasma (PPP)/plasma were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in chronic urticaria: (1) chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) with positive autologous serum skin test (ASST), (2) CSU with negative response to ASST, (3) CSU with concomitant euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis (CSU/Hashimoto), (4) delayed pressure urticaria (DPU), and the healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in VEGF concentration in PPP between CSU groups and the healthy subjects. Contrary, VEGF concentration was significantly higher in DPU and CSU/Hashimoto patients as compared with the healthy subjects and CSU groups. Furthermore, VEGF value in CSU/Hashimoto patients during the remission was similar to that of the active period and significantly higher than the healthy subjects; VEGF concentration was significantly correlated with TSH. Plasma concentrations of sVEGF1 and sVEGF2 were similar in chronic urticaria patients and the healthy subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased free circulating VEGF concentration may result from the urticarial process itself as well as concomitant Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
authors.affiliation: Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Upper Silesian Medical Centre, 40-635 Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jagodzinska
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition-Associated Disease Prevention, Faculty of Public Health, Ulica Piekarska 18, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-902 Bytom, Poland.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Polaniak
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ulica Jordana 19, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-808 Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Birkner
authors.affiliation: Chair and Clinical Department of Internal Diseases, Dermatology and Allergology, Ulica M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 10, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasperska-Zajac
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D012882:Skin Tests; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D014581:Urticaria / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D013972:Thyrotropin; C000588866:KDR protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2