Blood rheological profiles in patients with chronic urticaria.

Psychological factors, such as stress, anxiety, depression, as well as immuno-inflammatory processes may influence blood rheology. On the other hand, these factors may be involved in triggering, aggravating or maintenance of urticaria symptoms. The present study was designed to compare blood rheological properties of patients with chronic urticaria with positive response to autologous serum skin test (ASST) and negative response to ASST. The study comprised 15 female patients with chronic urticaria showing positive response to ASST, 14 female patients with chronic urticaria showing negative response to ASST and 15 healthy subjects. Rheological properties of erythrocytes, such as deformability and aggregation, were measured. Overall blood viscosity measurements were performed with the use of cone-plate Brookfield's viscometer, and plasma viscosity measurement employed capillary Ubbelohd's viscometer. The hemorheological parameters did not differ significantly between the groups. It seems that blood rheological properties do not alter in patients with chronic urticaria, irrespective of their response to ASST.