Background
Alopecia areata (AA) is a hair disease that causes hair loss without scarring. The etiopathogenesis of AA has not been fully understood yet.
Objective
To determine serum interleukin levels (IL-2, IL-4, IL-15, and IL-17) in patients diagnosed with alopecia areata and to investigate the relationship of IL levels with the duration and severity of alopecia areata and the response to tofacitinib therapy.
Methods
Patients (≥16 years old) diagnosed with alopecia areata and healthy individuals as a control group was enrolled. Baseline serum interleukin levels of the patients and controls were measured. In the patient group receiving tofacitinib therapy, serum interleukin levels were measured again after 6 months. Disease severity for alopecia areata was assessed using the Severity of Alopecia Tool.
Results
Sixty-one AA patients and 30 healthy individuals were included; they were comparable regarding age and sex. The mean disease duration for AA was 7 ± 6 years and the baseline mean Severity of Alopecia Tool score was 71 ± 30 (range, 20–100). Baseline IL-2, IL-4 and IL-15 levels were significantly higher in the patient group than those in the control group (p < 0.001 for each). No significant correlation was found between the baseline interleukin levels and either disease duration or disease severity (baseline Severity of Alopecia Tool score). Among the patients receiving tofacitinib (n = 22), all interleukin levels significantly decreased after treatment. However, no significant relationship between the change in interleukin levels and the change in the Severity of Alopecia Tool scores was observed after tofacitinib treatment.
Study limitations
This is a monocentric study conducted in a single university hospital.
Conclusion
High interleukin levels in alopecia areata patients and the significant decrease with treatment support the idea that interleukins have a role in pathogenesis. Nevertheless, no relationship could be demonstrated between IL levels and disease duration or severity.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aims to demonstrate real-life effectiveness of dupilumab treatment in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis patients.
METHODS:
The 14 patients diagnosed with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis were included in this study. All of the patients started dupilumab treatment in our faculty between October 2019 and October 2020. The patients were evaluated at the beginning of the treatment and after 12 weeks of treatments. The baseline scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) scores, the total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, and the visual analog scale (VAS) of 0–10 points for itch intensity compared with the post-treatment scores.
RESULTS:
The SCORAD scores, the serum total IgE levels, and the VAS itch scores of the patients receiving dupilumab treatment dropped significantly following 12 weeks of dupilumab treatment. No significant correlation was demonstrated between the initial SCORAD scores and the serum total IgE values. Besides, no correlation was shown to exist in the reduction of the SCORAD and the serum total IgE values after dupilumab treatment.
CONCLUSION:
Dupilumab treatment showed significant improvement in disease severity with remarkable reduction in serum total IgE levels.
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