Hyperlipidemia in association with pro-inflammatory cytokines among chronic spontaneous urticaria: case-control study.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a disorder characterized by recurrent transient itchy wheels of 6 weeks duration or longer. The cause cannot be pinpointed in about 40% of patients. To elucidate the possible association between CSU and hyperlipidemia, 40 CSU patients and 40 group matched healthy individuals were assessed for hyperlipidemia. Data on history, urticaria activity score (UAS-7), physical examination and routine laboratory investigations including lipid profile (serum IL6 and TNF alpha) was recorded. Statistically significant in-crease of serum cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), IL6, TNF alpha and decrease of high density lipoprotein (HDL) was found in CSU in comparison to control group. Regarding the different disease variables, both TG and cholesterol were positively correlated with duration of illness, urticaria activity score and serum TNF alpha. Serum LDL detected significant positive correlation with duration of illness, urticaria score, CRP and TNF alpha while serum HDL detected significant negative correlation with TNF alpha. IL6 and TNF alpha associated systemic inflammation could be a common pathogenic mechanism of CSU and hyperlipidemia. Patients with CSU should be evaluated for hyperlipidemia.