Serum sex hormone levels and their relationship with autologous serum skin test in chronic urticaria patients

Abstract

Background and Design: Although the etiology of chronic urticaria is not clear, autoimmune and inflammatory activities are suspected. We aimed to determine the relationship of serum sex hormone levels with disease severity and autologous serum skin test (ASST) positivity in chronic urticaria patients on the basis of the fact that sex hormones have a regulatory role on the functions of inflammatory cells. Materials and Methods: Fifty female chronic urticaria patients and 25 age-matched healthy females were included. In the patient group, severity of illness was determined and ASST was performed. Serum prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, progesterone and total testosterone levels in both groups were recorded. Results: There was no significant difference in the severity of illness between ASST (-) and ASST (+) patients. DHEA-S levels in ASST (-) and ASST (+) groups were compared, and significantly lower levels were detected in the patient group. There was no significant correlation between ASST positivity and DHEA-S levels. There was no significant difference in other hormone levels between control and patient groups. It was also found that there was no significant difference in LH/FSH levels between patient and control groups. Conclusion: In chronic urticaria patients, DHEA-S and total androgens, progesterone levels which have anti-inflammatory effects are expected to be lower, and estrogen and prolactin levels which have proinflamatory effects are expected to be higher. The reason that there was no significant difference between patient and control groups in levels other than DHEA-S may be due to the fact that these hormone levels are not directly related with autoreactivity and/or chronic urticaria.