Assessment of Serum Interleukin-15 in Alopecia Areata patients

Mohamed, Aya Taha Abd Elfattah; Atallah, Rabie Bedir; Zaky, Mohamed Shokry; ElGhannam, Sherif Ibrahim

doi:10.21608/ijma.2024.284207.1958

Assessment of Serum Interleukin-15 in Alopecia Areata patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Mansoura Dermatology and Leprosy Hospital, Ministry of Health, Mansoura, Egypt

² Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Andrology, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University; Damietta, Egypt

³ Department of Clinical Pathology, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University; Damietta, Egypt

10.21608/ijma.2024.284207.1958

Abstract

Background: Alopecia Areata [AA] is the commonest cause of non-scaring alopecia. Its incidence reached up to 3.8%. it is considered as an autoimmune disease. However, its onset, course and response to treatment are not predictable. Interleukin-15 [IL-15] seems to play a crucial pathogenetic role. However, the evidence is not conclusive. The current work aimed to measure the IL-15 values in AA, comparing it to healthy volunteers and investigates its potential association with disease activity and severity and its diagnostic role.
Patients and Methods: This is a case-control comparative study, which included 80 subjects [40 with AA and 40 age and sex-matched apparently healthy controls]. All were clinically evaluated and serum levels of IL-15 were measured and correlated with disease severity [determined by Severity of Alopecia Tool [SALT]]. Dermoscopy was performed to confirm the diagnosis.
Results: Both study and controls were comparable regarding patient demographics. However, 52.5% of the cases had active disease, and 20% had severe disease. There was a significant increase of IL-15 in the cases than the control group [median values were 542.66 vs 264.54, respectively] However, there was insignificant link between serum IL-15 and each of patient age, sex and marital status. But there was a significant higher value of IL-15 among cases with severe than active and or stable disease [646.8, than 537.5 or 456.76, respectively]. IL-15 is a good test for diagnosis of AA. The area under curve [AUC] was excellent [0.944]. The best recorded cut off point was 368.06 with sensitivity of 97.5%, specificity 85% and total accuracy 91.3%.
Conclusion: IL-15 could be considered as a valid and reliable indicator for disease development and progress. It also can be used as a follow up marker for treatment.

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