Abnormale und Verhaltenspsychologie

Neuro-Immuno-Psychological Aspects of Chronic Urticaria

Abstract

Aleksandra Tarkowski*

Urticaria is a condition that causes itchy wheals, angioedema, or both. The pathophysiology of chronic spontaneous urticaria is still unknown. It is proposed that there is no dominant and independent mechanism of CSU; however, there are various immunological and non-immunological abnormalities that act concurrently or/and follow each other, resulting in clinical symptoms. According to the most recent hypothesis, mast cells (MCs) are activated via autoantibodies in an autoallergic or autoimmune mechanism, and mediators released from degranulated MCs are responsible for the vasoactive and neurospecific effect in CSU. Many clinical observations suggest that psychological stress can be both a triggering factor in the onset of CSU and a modulating factor in the course of the disease and therapy effectiveness.