Analysis of plasma D-dimer concentration in patients with delayed pressure urticaria.

BACKGROUND: Activation of fibrinolysis system has been observed in spontaneous urticaria.

AIM: To investigate the haemostatic activation in DPU, expressed by plasma D-dimer concentration, the index of active fibrinolysis.

METHODS: Plasma D-dimer concentrations were measured in eight patients with pure DPU of varying severity as well as in 30 healthy subjects.

RESULTS: The analysis of individual results indicated that three patients of the eight show d-dimer concentration higher than the upper limit of the normal range. All the patients had severe DPU and manifested extensive lesions. The remaining five milder cases showed values within the normal range.

CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis revealed that DPU patients may differ in their haemostatic activation state depending on severity of the disease. In severe DPU cases hyperfibrinolysis may occur, manifested by elevated plasma d-dimer concentration, probably as a consequence of the systemic inflammatory response.