Correlation between IL-17 levels and chronic urticaria: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Recent advances have elucidated the pivotal role of IL-17 in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, with breakthroughs in biologics modulating IL-17 signaling pathways. However, emerging evidence suggests a potential association between IL-17 and chronic urticaria (CU). Some studies have quantified IL-17 and related cytokines in CU cohorts to unravel their pathophysiologic contributions and therapeutic implications. Objective This study conducted an evidence-based systematic review to evaluate the pathologic role of IL-17 in CU. Methods Comprehensive searches were performed across Chinese and English biomedical databases, including CNKI, Wanfang, Sinomed, PubMed, and Web of Science, to collect clinical studies investigating the association between IL-17 and CU from database inception to December 31, 2024. Meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.4, with effect sizes calculated by a random-effects model. Results A total of 37 eligible clinical studies were included, comprising 2,630 CU patients and 1,731 healthy controls. Meta-analysis revealed that serum IL-17 levels in CU patients were significantly higher than in controls, with a standardized mean difference of 2.71 (95% confidence interval, 2.28-3.15; Z = 12.12, P < .00001), demonstrating high statistical significance. Conclusion As a key effector cytokine of the T H 17 pathway, IL-17 exhibits a significant positive correlation with CU pathogenesis. Emerging clinical evidence suggests that IL-17 inhibitors may effectively treat antihistamine- and omalizumab-resistant chronic spontaneous urticaria.