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Serum Th1 cytokine levels are greater in patients with alopecia areata regardless of severity or atopy

A study in 269 alopecia areata (AA) patients with or without atopy determined their levels of various serum cytokines to determine whether AA severity is affected by AA phenotype or coexistent atopy. Eighteen unaffected or unrelated subjects served as controls. Of the 269 patients, 96 and 54% had active disease or were atopic, respectively. The disease phenotype was transient patchy, persistent patchy or alopecia totalis/universalis in 27, 89 and 153 patients, respectively.  Levels of T helper (Th) Th1, interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (ra) and IL-8 were higher in all AA patients versus controls. IL-1alpha, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels were increased in atopic versus nonatopic AA subjects. Various serum ...