Merve Akca - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Merve Akca

Research paper thumbnail of Correlation of urticaria activity score in chronic spontaneous urticaria with serum C‐reactive protein level and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio

Dermatologic Therapy

Objective: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) lacks a specific trigger.The urticaria activity sc... more Objective: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) lacks a specific trigger.The urticaria activity score (UAS) is used to evaluate disease status. Some studies have reported elevated serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in CSU patients, and that it is correlated with disease severity. The neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio is a significant indicator of systemic inflammation. We investigated the potential correlation between serum levels of hsCRP and N/L ratio, as well as urticaria activity, in CSU patients. Materials and Methods We included 52 CSU patients treated at the Dermatology Polyclinic of Beysehir State Hospital between August and October 2020, and 50 controls. The 7-day urticaria activity scores were graded mild, moderate, or intense. We measured N/L ratios, erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESRs),and the levels of hsCRP, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in each group. The anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) and anti-microsomal antibody (anti-TPO) levels of CSU patients were also assayed. Results: There were no significant differences in hsCRP, T4, or TSH levels between the groups ,however, both the ESR and N/L ratio were significantly higher in CSU patients (p=0.96), (p=0.07), (p=0.67), (p<0.001). No correlation was evident between the UAS(day7) This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (UAS7) score and the hsCRP level or the N/L ratio (p=0.528),(p=0.387). Of all CSU patients,19.2 % tested positive for anti-TPO and 9.6% were positive for anti-TG; these data were not correlated with the UAS7 (p=1), (p=0.637). Conclusion: Inflammation plays a role in CSU. Although we did not find a correlation between the UAS and either the hsCRP level or the N/L ratio, the ESR and N/L ratio were higher in CSU patients than in controls.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of urticaria patients before and during the period of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A retrospective study

Dermatologic Therapy, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic is the most serious health crisis facing the modern world; hospital admissi... more The COVID-19 pandemic is the most serious health crisis facing the modern world; hospital admissions have risen dramatically. Urticaria is characterized by itchy edematous papules/plaques, angioedema, and involvement of one or both of the deep dermis or subcutis. We investigated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of acute and chronic urticaria, the proportions of urticaria patients among all dermatology patients before and after the onset of the pandemic, and age and sex characteristics. About 57 patients diagnosed with urticaria

Research paper thumbnail of Correlation of urticaria activity score in chronic spontaneous urticaria with serum C‐reactive protein level and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio

Dermatologic Therapy

Objective: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) lacks a specific trigger.The urticaria activity sc... more Objective: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) lacks a specific trigger.The urticaria activity score (UAS) is used to evaluate disease status. Some studies have reported elevated serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in CSU patients, and that it is correlated with disease severity. The neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio is a significant indicator of systemic inflammation. We investigated the potential correlation between serum levels of hsCRP and N/L ratio, as well as urticaria activity, in CSU patients. Materials and Methods We included 52 CSU patients treated at the Dermatology Polyclinic of Beysehir State Hospital between August and October 2020, and 50 controls. The 7-day urticaria activity scores were graded mild, moderate, or intense. We measured N/L ratios, erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESRs),and the levels of hsCRP, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in each group. The anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) and anti-microsomal antibody (anti-TPO) levels of CSU patients were also assayed. Results: There were no significant differences in hsCRP, T4, or TSH levels between the groups ,however, both the ESR and N/L ratio were significantly higher in CSU patients (p=0.96), (p=0.07), (p=0.67), (p<0.001). No correlation was evident between the UAS(day7) This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (UAS7) score and the hsCRP level or the N/L ratio (p=0.528),(p=0.387). Of all CSU patients,19.2 % tested positive for anti-TPO and 9.6% were positive for anti-TG; these data were not correlated with the UAS7 (p=1), (p=0.637). Conclusion: Inflammation plays a role in CSU. Although we did not find a correlation between the UAS and either the hsCRP level or the N/L ratio, the ESR and N/L ratio were higher in CSU patients than in controls.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of urticaria patients before and during the period of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A retrospective study

Dermatologic Therapy, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic is the most serious health crisis facing the modern world; hospital admissi... more The COVID-19 pandemic is the most serious health crisis facing the modern world; hospital admissions have risen dramatically. Urticaria is characterized by itchy edematous papules/plaques, angioedema, and involvement of one or both of the deep dermis or subcutis. We investigated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of acute and chronic urticaria, the proportions of urticaria patients among all dermatology patients before and after the onset of the pandemic, and age and sex characteristics. About 57 patients diagnosed with urticaria