الفهرس 
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Abstract
Alopecia areata is a common, clinically heterogenous, immune-mediated, non-scarring hair loss disorder. The disease may be limited to one or more discrete, well-circumscribed round or oval patches of hair loss on the scalp or body, or it may affect the entire scalp or the entire body.Although AA is not life threatening, psychological comorbidities are common and result in major impact on patients’ lives.
Interleukin-15 is a pleiotropic cytokine which exerts the multiple biological effects on different body cell types. It affects the functions of the cells of the immune system, both innate and adaptive and hence, it has an important role during inflammation and during the immune responses to infections and infestations.
The role ofInterleukin-15in the pathogenesis of AA was suggested when the blocking ofIL-15receptor beta reduced the number of CD8+NKG2D+ T cells in the skin and prevented the development of AA in the mouse model of the disease.
The aim of this study was to assess serum levels of interleukin-15 in AA patients which may help to clarify the pathogenesis of this common and important skin disease.
This case control study was carried out in the Out-Patient Clinics of Dermatology and Venereology Department, Suez Canal University Hospital,and included 40 participants; 20 with AA and 20 healthy controls, during the period from July 2020 to September 2020.
An informed consent was taken from each participant after detailed personal and drug history, general and dermatological examination to detect the grade of alopecia severity according to SALT score. Blood samples were taken to measure serum IL-15 level by ELISA for all participants.
This study showed that serum IL-15 levels there were statistically significant higher (p=0.043) in AA patients than in healthy controls
The current study showed also that there were statistically significant relation between serum IL-15 and Age (p=0.017*). Childhood (0 – 18 years) showed a higher Serum IL-15 followed by Middle aged (40-64 years) and early adulthood (19-39 years). In addition, there were statistically significant relation between serum IL-15 and age at disease onset (p=0.008*). Patients who experienced AA at age less than 10 years showed a higher Serum IL-15 than those who experienced the disease at age older than10 years.
There were statistically significant relation between serum IL-15 and presence of AA in other body sites (p=0.010*). Scalp only showed a higher Serum IL-15 than scalp and other body sites.
Regarding correlation between Age and serum IL-15 level, there were statistically significant negative correlation between serum IL-15 level and Age (p=0.001*). As the age increase serum IL-15 level decreases.
Regarding correlation between Age at disease onset and serum IL-15 level, there were statistically significant negative correlation between serum IL-15 level and Age at disease onset (p=0.008*). As the Age at disease onset increase serum IL-15 level decreases.
In Conclusion, Serum level of IL-15 was significantly higher in AA patients compared to healthy controls. This might highlight the role of IL-15 in AA immune pathogenesis and shed light on the