الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Vitiligo is an acquired chronic pigmentation disorder of the skin characterized by white patches corresponding to substantial loss of function of the epidermal and sometimes hair follicle melanocytes. Its incidence in general population ranges from 1-2% according to different studies.
Interleukin-2 is a lymphokine synthesized and secreted primarily by T-helper lymphocytes. It can be measured indirectly through measurement of serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor in the serum. Its functions include the regulation of antibody production and controlling the proliferation of B-lymphocytes as well as the activation of T-lymphocytes. It has been previously demonstrated that lymphocytes are directly involved in the destruction of melanocytes. Additionally, several autoantibodies to numberous organs in addition to antimelanocyte antibodies are a common finding in vitiligo patients.
The objective of this study was to study the relationship between serum concentrations of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in vitiligo patients in different subtypes of vitiligo and also its relationship to vitiligo disease activity and the VIDA score as a subjective marker of disease severity.
This study was conducted at the department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University main hospitals on 75 vitiligo patients and 25 healthy subjects as controls. The type of vitiligo, disease activity and severity (according to VIDA score) in addition to various other variables such as concomitant dermatologic findings in these patients were assessed. Determination of serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels was done using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from venous blood samples obtained from the patients and controls in the study population.