Activation of blood coagulation in chronic urticaria: pathophysiological and clinical implications. 2010

Massimo Cugno, and Angelo V Marzano, and Riccardo Asero, and Alberto Tedeschi
Department of Internal Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Via Pace 9, 20122, Milan, Italy. massimo.cugno@unimi.it

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a skin disorder characterized by the recurrent eruption of short-lived wheals accompanied by redness and itching for at least 6 weeks. The wheals can be associated with angioedema. CU is considered an autoimmune disease in about 50% of cases with the presence of circulating histamine releasing autoantibodies mainly directed against the high affinity IgE receptor FcepsilonRI on mast cells and basophils or against IgE. In several CU cases regarded as idiopathic; the actual pathophysiological mechanisms are still unknown. Some patients with CU do not respond to antihistamines and require the use of systemic steroids or cyclosporin, which are, however, not always effective. In CU, several investigators have demonstrated the activation of coagulation that is due to the involvement of eosinophils and a tissue factor pathway with generation of thrombin potentially contributing to an increased vascular permeability. CU patients often present with elevation of coagulation and fibrinolysis markers, such as prothrombin fragment F1+2 and D: -dimer, which correlate with the disease severity. Preliminary data indicate that anticoagulant treatment with heparin and warfarin may be effective in reducing the symptoms of this disorder. Taken together, all these findings provide the rationale for proposing clinical trials on the use of anticoagulant drugs as adjuvant treatment in CU patients.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007073 Immunoglobulin E An immunoglobulin associated with MAST CELLS. Overexpression has been associated with allergic hypersensitivity (HYPERSENSITIVITY, IMMEDIATE). IgE
D008407 Mast Cells Granulated cells that are found in almost all tissues, most abundantly in the skin and the gastrointestinal tract. Like the BASOPHILS, mast cells contain large amounts of HISTAMINE and HEPARIN. Unlike basophils, mast cells normally remain in the tissues and do not circulate in the blood. Mast cells, derived from the bone marrow stem cells, are regulated by the STEM CELL FACTOR. Basophils, Tissue,Basophil, Tissue,Cell, Mast,Cells, Mast,Mast Cell,Tissue Basophil,Tissue Basophils
D001777 Blood Coagulation The process of the interaction of BLOOD COAGULATION FACTORS that results in an insoluble FIBRIN clot. Blood Clotting,Coagulation, Blood,Blood Clottings,Clotting, Blood
D002908 Chronic Disease Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2). Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D004804 Eosinophils Granular leukocytes with a nucleus that usually has two lobes connected by a slender thread of chromatin, and cytoplasm containing coarse, round granules that are uniform in size and stainable by eosin. Eosinophil
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013925 Thromboplastin Constituent composed of protein and phospholipid that is widely distributed in many tissues. It serves as a cofactor with factor VIIa to activate factor X in the extrinsic pathway of blood coagulation. Antigens, CD142,CD142 Antigens,Coagulation Factor III,Factor III,Tissue Factor,Tissue Thromboplastin,Blood Coagulation Factor III,Coagulin,Glomerular Procoagulant Activity,Prothrombinase,Tissue Factor Procoagulant,Urothromboplastin,Activity, Glomerular Procoagulant,Factor III, Coagulation,Procoagulant Activity, Glomerular,Procoagulant, Tissue Factor,Thromboplastin, Tissue
D014581 Urticaria A vascular reaction of the skin characterized by erythema and wheal formation due to localized increase of vascular permeability. The causative mechanism may be allergy, infection, or stress. Hives,Urticarial Wheals,Urticarial Wheal,Urticarias,Wheal, Urticarial,Wheals, Urticarial
D015539 Platelet Activation A series of progressive, overlapping events, triggered by exposure of the PLATELETS to subendothelial tissue. These events include shape change, adhesiveness, aggregation, and release reactions. When carried through to completion, these events lead to the formation of a stable hemostatic plug. Activation, Platelet,Activations, Platelet,Platelet Activations
D015551 Autoimmunity Process whereby the immune system reacts against the body's own tissues. Autoimmunity may produce or be caused by AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES. Autoimmune Response,Autoimmune Responses,Autoimmunities

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