Study: Markers Reveal New Diagnostic Paths in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

A recent study highlighted new diagnostic markers and pathways in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).

Researchers publishing in the International Journal of Dermatology included 90 CSU patients and 90 healthy individuals in the analysis. The authors then analyzed markers from diverse metabolic pathways, including novel inflammatory indicators.

Their analysis showed significant elevations in the D-dimer/albumin ratio (DAR), fibrinogen/albumin ratio (FAR), fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, and uric acid/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio (UHR) values in the patient group. Albumin, HDL, and uric acid values showed notable decreases. HDL and albumin yielded the most accurate results after univariate logistic regression analysis. Furthermore, FAR demonstrated greater accuracy than fibrinogen, while DAR demonstrated higher accuracy than D-dimer. No statistically significant correlation was found between the Urticaria Activity Score 7 (UAS7) and the assessed parameters. The authors noted that the correlation between CRP and other parameters (with the exception of D-dimer) was "remarkable."

"Our study contributes to understanding CSU pathophysiology by collectively evaluating a diverse set of markers," The identified markers, especially novel ratios like FAR and DAR, are promising indicators for assessing the severity, progression, and treatment response of CSU. Further research and validation studies are warranted to establish these markers' clinical significance and potential integration into routine diagnostic and management protocols for CSU. 

They added: "Analyzing how the levels of these markers respond to various treatment options, including monoclonal antibodies, might also contribute to evaluating treatment superiority in further studies."

Source: Metin Z, et al. International Journal of Dermatology. 2024. Doi: 10.1111/ijd.17147