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Introduction
Alopecia areata (AA) is heterogeneous disease characterized by nonscarring hair loss on the scalp or other parts of the body. It affects 1-2% population of both genders and occurs at all age groups [1]. A wide range of clinical presentation can occur-from a single patch of hair loss to complete loss of hair on the scalp (alopecia totalis-AT) or the entire body (alopecia universalis-AU). The course of AA is usually characterized by phases of acute hair loss followed by spontaneous hair regrowth. However, in severe forms hair loss can persist for many years or even life. Although the etiopathogenesis of the disease is not clear, several studies have shown that within the cascade of pathogenesis of AA, cytokines play a crucial role. It is also considered that a disequelibrium in the production of cytokines, with a relative excess of proinflammatory, versus antiinflammatory cytokines may be involved in the persistence of AA lesions [2-4]. Hair loss may occur because proinflammatory cytokines interfere with the hair cycle, leading to premature arrest of hair cycling with cessation of hair growth [5]. This concept may explain typical clinical features of AA such as a progression pattern in centrifugal waves [6] and spontaneous hair regrowth in concentric rings [7], suggesting the presence of soluble mediators within affected areas of the scalp. Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is a multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine, which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several chronic inflammatory disorders with an autoimmune component. There are two forms of IL-1: IL-1α and IL-β. Both forms of IL-1 bind to the same receptor and therefore also show similar if not identical biological activities. Studies have shown that IL-1 is a very potent inducer of hair loss and a significant human hair growth inhibitor in vitro [8,9]. Literature data on serum IL-1 in patients with AA are very limited. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate serum concentrations of IL-1α and IL-1β in patients with AA and healthy subjects and also to asses a possible association between these cytokines and duration of the disease.
Methods
The study included 46 patients (29 females and 17 males, median age 36.5, ranging from 5 to 69 years) who presented to the Dermatological Clinic with complaints of hair loss and were diagnosed...