Neopterin, homocysteine, and ADMA levels during and after urticaria attack

Urticaria is a vascular skin reaction characterized with papules and plaques. Neopterin is accepted as an immunologic marker and an indicator of activation of the immune system. Homocysteine and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) are the markers of increased vascular resistance. Alteration in vascular resistance has a role in the pathogenesis of urticaria. We aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between urticaria and neopterin, homocysteine, or ADMA.

The study is designed as a prospective descriptive study and patients with a diagnosis of urticaria in the emergency department were included in the study. Demographic data and characteristics of the disease were recorded. Neopterin, homocysteine, and ADMA levels were measured both during and after urticaria attacks. All data were statistically analyzed.

The differences between neopterin levels measured during and after urticaria attacks were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The differences between homocysteine and ADMA levels measured during and after urticaria attacks were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

Our results indicate that neopterin levels in patients with urticaria attacks are increased and the level of neopterin is also a useful parameter in acute urticaria. Further studies should clarify whether homocysteine levels contribute to diagnosis of acute urticaria. However, no relation was found between ADMA and urticaria.