Plasma soluble CD40 concentration in patients with delayed pressure urticaria

Abstract

Very little is known about the immune-inflammatory cascade in delayed pressure urticaria (DPU). It has been suggested that increased activation/expression of CD40 may result in enhanced release of soluble CD40 (sCD40) in chronic urticaria. To investigate release of sCD40 in the course of DPU, plasma sCD40 concentration was measured using ELISA method in 18 adult patients with DPU and 27 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Plasma sCD40 concentration did not differ significantly in the DPU group as compared to healthy subjects. The present study as well as the earlier contributions, suggest that distinct CD40-signalling activity manifested by sCD40 release may be identified in different types of urticaria. Delayed pressure urticaria is not associated with increased circulating sCD40 concentration, contrary to chronic spontaneous urticaria with positive response to autologous serum skin test.