title: Total serum immunoglobulin E in patients with alopecia areata.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alopecia areata (AA) is a common form of localized, non-scarring hair loss. The pathogenesis of the disease is unknown. Previous evidence suggested the involvement of Th2 cytokines in disease pathogenesis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine serum level of total IgE, this is mainly influenced by Th2 cytokines, in Egyptian patients with AA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty subjects with AA (28 males and 22 females) were selected from Dermatology Outpatient Clinic, Menoufiya University Hospital from February 2012 to December 2012. Subjects with other conditions that might elevate serum IgE were excluded from the study. Fifty age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were selected as a control group. Venous blood samples were taken from cases and controls for measurement of total serum IgE by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Skin biopsy was taken from every case from an active area of hair loss.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total serum IgE was elevated in 27 (54%) cases. Its values among patients ranged from 13.5 IU/ml to 780 IU/ml. There was a statistically significant difference between cases and controls with regard to mean value of serum IgE (P < 0.05). Mean value of IgE did not vary significantly with disease severity, patients' age, patients' gender, disease duration, site of lesions, and positive family history of AA. No correlation was found between serum IgE levels and histopathological changes detected in examined cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total serum IgE is elevated in AA. This elevation is not related to age, gender, disease duration, disease severity, site of affection or family history of AA.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology, Andrology and STDs, Menoufiya University, Menoufiya, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ola Ahmed
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Bakry
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufiya University, Menoufiya, Egypt.
authors.forename: Rania Mohamed Azmy
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: El Shazly
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology, Andrology and STDs, Menoufiya University, Menoufiya, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed Ahmed
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Basha
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology, Andrology and STDs, Menoufiya University, Menoufiya, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mostafa
keywords: Alopecia; IgE; pathogenesis