الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The exact pathophysiology of AA remains unknown. The most widely accepted hypothesis is that AA is a T-cell–mediated autoimmune condition that is most likely to occur in genetically predisposed individuals.
Approved treatments for AA are nonspecific and with limited responses that increased the importance for more research to achieve an effective target-oriented therapy.
IFN-γ is the main cytokine known to be aberrantly expressed in AA through a CD4+ Th1 mediated response.
About the role of IFN-,There are more than one evidence of its role in AA pathogenesis and the net data obtained from these studies prove the role of IFN as AA inducer. Also, many studies about TNF- alpha have been conducted to investigate its mysterious role in AA and it was considered to have dual protective and contributive role.
This work aimed to assess the serum concentration of IFN- and TNF in serum of patients with AA, to clarify the relation between both cytokines and their relation with disease severity and activity.
The study was conducted on 72 patients with AA and 20 age and sex matched healthy control subjects selected from the dermatology outpatient clinic of the Alexandria Main University Hospital.
The clinical diagnosis of AA and disease activity in the present series of cases was confirmed by dermoscopic findings also the disease severity was assessed according to SALT score (S1, S2, S3 or S4).
Concerning IFN , its mean serum level in patient with AA was significantly higher than the mean serum level in control subjects. But it was not significantly correlated with the activity status and disease severity.
The mean serum level of TNF was significantly higher in patients with AA than the mean serum level in control subjects. While it was not significantly correlated with disease activity, it was significantly correlated with disease severity.
The serum level of IFN and TNF were not significantly correlated with disease duration, age of onset, clinical type and intake of medication.
There was a statistically significant parallel correlation between IFN and TNF .
In our study, we found that disease severity was significantly higher in children than adults also positive family history was more recorded in children with AA