Background: Low grade inflammation is associated with both chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and atherosclerosis. Data regarding an association between urticarial inflammation and atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular events are scarce. It has been demonstrated that matrix GLA protein (MGP), a biomarker of arterial calcification, is increased in patients with atherosclerosis.
Objectives: To evaluate circulating levels of markers of arterial calcification and acute phase response (APR) in patients with CSU.
Methods: Concentrations of MGP and IL-6 were measured in venous blood samples of patients with long-lasting moderate-severe CSU.
Results: There were no significant differences in serum MGP concentration between healthy subjects and CU patients. Serum IL-6 concentration was significantly higher in CSU patients as compared with healthy subjects.
Conclusions: The results confirm that CSU is accompanied by a low grade systemic inflammatory state. However, the long lasting urticarial inflammation was not paralleled by an increased circulating level of the calcification marker matrix Gla protein.
Keywords: acute phase response; calcification; chronic inflammation; chronic spontaneous urticaria; matrix Gla Protein.