title: Neopterin, homocysteine, and ADMA levels during and after urticaria attack.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Urticaria is a vascular skin reaction characterized with papules and plaques. Neopterin is accepted as an immunologic marker and an indicator of activation of the immune system. Homocysteine and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) are the markers of increased vascular resistance. Alteration in vascular resistance has a role in the pathogenesis of urticaria. We aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between urticaria and neopterin, homocysteine, or ADMA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is designed as a prospective descriptive study and patients with a diagnosis of urticaria in the emergency department were included in the study. Demographic data and characteristics of the disease were recorded. Neopterin, homocysteine, and ADMA levels were measured both during and after urticaria attacks. All data were statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The differences between neopterin levels measured during and after urticaria attacks were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The differences between homocysteine and ADMA levels measured during and after urticaria attacks were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that neopterin levels in patients with urticaria attacks are increased and the level of neopterin is also a useful parameter in acute urticaria. Further studies should clarify whether homocysteine levels contribute to diagnosis of acute urticaria. However, no relation was found between ADMA and urticaria.
authors.forename: Salim Kemal
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kaldirim
authors.forename: Yusuf Emrah
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Eyi
authors.forename: Ali Osman
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Safak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ekinci
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eroğlu
authors.forename: Muzaffer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oztosun
authors.forename: Selahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozyürek
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durusu
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Güleç
authors.forename: Tuncer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cayci
authors.forename: Ozcan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Altinel
authors.forename: Hüseyin Levent
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Yamanel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014581:Urticaria / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D019798:Neopterin; D001120:Arginine