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Inflammation
Published in: Inflammation 5/2011

Open Access 01-10-2011

Does Dehydroepiandrosterone Influence the Expression of Urticaria?—a Mini Review

Author: A. Kasperska-Zajac

Published in: Inflammation | Issue 5/2011

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Abstract

Chronic urticaria is a challenging problem since the exact cause and mechanism involved in the disease development have still remained unknown. This disease is associated with mast cells activation and immunoinflammatory processes. Interestingly, dysfunctions of the neuroendocrine–immune system due to stress and other factors seem to appear as a very interesting theory for urticaria pathogenesis. Dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate derivative (DHEA-S) appear to have regulatory effects in immune homeostasis and are regulated by the nervous system, and it is suggested that they may be an integral element of neuroimmunomodulation. Our studies showed substantially decreased serum concentration of DHEA-S in patients with chronic urticaria. However, current knowledge prevents answering whether lower circulating DHEA-S concentration is a primary phenomenon or just an accompanying one which appears as a response of different systems to the course of the illness and may not be of any importance for the pathogenesis of urticaria whatsoever. This review is a summary of clinical research on the role of DHEA in chronic urticaria.
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Metadata
Title
Does Dehydroepiandrosterone Influence the Expression of Urticaria?—a Mini Review
Author
A. Kasperska-Zajac
Publication date
01-10-2011
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Inflammation / Issue 5/2011
Print ISSN: 0360-3997
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2576
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-010-9242-z

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