Evaluation of Plasma D-dimer Levels in Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria (CIU)

Abstract

Background: Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is a common form of chronic urticaria in which no precise causal factors can be identified. The objective of this study is to estimate the plasma levels of D-dimer in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria, to assess its possible role in CIU and to correlate such levels with the disease severity.Methods: Twenty patients with CIU; ten with urticaria of known cause and ten apparently healthy subjects matched for age and sex were included in this study. Plasma Ddimer was estimated for all groups while in the acute attack and after remission of symptoms.Results: Plasma D-dimer was significantly elevated in CIU patients , it was also significantly elevated in patients with CU of known cause with no significant difference between the two groups. Higher levels of D-dimer were detected in relation to the severity of urticaria that a highly significant difference was detected between severe and mild cases. D-dimer plasma levels after complete remission of symptoms show a dramatic drop which was significantly higher during the acute exacerbation of the disease.Conclusions: Plasma D-dimer could be a useful marker of disease severity and activity in CU patients.