[Association between C reactive protein and clinical characteristics in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria]

To explore the association among C reactive protein (CRP) level, disease severity and non-sedating antihistamine drug efficacy in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria.
 Methods: A total of 605 patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria from August 2013 to March 2015, diagnosed by dermatologist of Xiangya Hospital according to the guideline, were enrolled in present study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the weekly urticaria activity score (UAS): a response group (more than 50% reduction) and a nonresponse group (less than 50% reduction). T test and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze the correlation between the clinical characteristics (such as disease severity, drug efficacy) and CRP in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria.
 Results: The CRP levels were significantly higher in patients with severe chronic spontaneous urticaria as compared to those with moderate chronic spontaneous urticaria (t=-2.715, P<0.01). Meanwhile, after treatment with secondary antihistamine drug, the patients with lower CRP levels showed better responses than those with higher CRP levels [(2.5764±2.5059) and (3.6715±4.7732) mg/dL respectively; t=-2.187, P<0.05].
 Conclusion: Serum CRP level before the treatment may be correlated with the severity of chronic spontaneous urticaria and efficacy of treatment.