Immunoglobulin E and serum Interleukin 4 in patients with alopecia areata and its correlation to the severity of the disease

INTRODUCTION: Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common form of non‑scarring hair loss. The eatio-pathogenesis AA is unknown.
Aim: To assess serum level of IgE and IL-4 and in patients with AA and its correlation to severity of the disease.

METHODS: Methods: 57 patients with AA [38 (66.6%) females and 19 (33.3%) males]; and 17 normal volunteer enrolled in the study. Serum level IgE and IL-4 assessed by enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay and severity of AA assessed with Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT).
RESULTS: Results: The study included 57 patients with AA [38 (66.6%) females and 19 (33.3%) males]; among them, there were 28 patients (49.1%) with LAA, 10 (17.5%) with AT, and 19 (33.4%) with AU. The difference of IgE and IL-4 levels between different age groups was statistically significant among both cases and controls (p ≤ 0.05). The difference between IgE and IL-4 levels and severity of AA was statistically highly significant (p ≤ 0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Conclusions: IgE and IL-4 levels are elevated in patients with AA. The elevation of IgE and IL-4 is positively correlated the increasing severity of disease. This suggests a shift from a Th1 response in early AA to chronic Th2 immune profile.