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Subject Area

Dermatology

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the serum level of interleukin-15 (IL-15) in patients with alopecia areata (AA) in an attempt to verify its role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Background AA is a chronic, inflammatory, and autoimmune disease, presenting with nonscarring hair loss. It is a disorder with different clinical presentations. It most commonly affects the scalp, but any hair-bearing area of the skin can be affected. Patients and methods A total number of 80 individuals were included in this case–control study; 40 patients with AA and 40 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls. All cases were randomly selected from the Outpatient Clinic of Kafr El-Sheik Dermatology and Leprosy Hospital. Full history taking (Dermatology and Leprosy Hospital, history), clinical and dermatological examinations were done. IL-15 level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results IL-15 level was significantly elevated in AA patients (mean level of 62.72 ± 35.66 pg/ml) than in controls (mean level of 35.49 ± 19.72 pg/ml). All the studied parameters such as sex, family history, recurrence, site of the lesion, pattern, and shape had no statistically significant relation with IL-15. Conclusion The results obtained may suggest the involvement of IL-15 in the pathogenesis of AA.

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