Introduction

Alopecia areata (AA) is considered an autoimmune disorder characterized by patchy loss of hair from the scalp and other body parts. Many patients develop the disease in childhood. 

Aim

To answer the question whether abnormal production of some proinflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-15, IL-17A and IFN-) in children with AA may facilitate the development or progression of the disease.

Material and methods

The study group consisted of 42 children with AA, the control group – 37 healthy children. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from patients with AA and healthy controls and the concentrations of serum cytokines, namely IL-2, IL-6, IL-15, IL-17A, IFN- were determined quantitatively by ELISA method.

Results

The serum IL-6, IL-15, IL-17A and IFN- levels were significantly increased in patients with AA compared with control subjects (p < 0.05). The serum IL-15 level was found to be increased when the total duration of AA was increased (q = 0.30; p = 0.05). The serum cytokine level of IL-17A was found to be decreased when duration of the current episode was longer than 2 years (p < 0.05), but the correlation between IL-17A serum level and duration of the current episode was not confirmed in the Spearman test (q = –0.06; p = 0.68). The serum IL-17A level was found to be significantly decreased when the thyroiditis was present (q = –2.378; p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The increased levels of serum IL-6, IL-15, IL-17A and IFN- in children suggest imbalance in the serum proinflammatory cytokines production in AA.