الفهرس 
INTRODUCTION AND AIM OF THE WORKOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
In this study, IL-22 was demonstrated to have a role in the inflammatory process of PR through its proinflammatory cytokines which indirectly supported the hypothesized viral infectious theory with HHV-6 and HHV-7. The IL-22 level increased with the increase of severity, disease extent, duration, associated prodromal symptoms, PRSS and DLQI. The inflammatory process mediated by IL-22 is supposed to combat the spreading virus and this explains the self limited behavior of PR. It is also responsible for the appearance of PR lesions (hyperkeratosis, acanthosis and non specific dermal inflammatory infiltrate). With the progress of biological therapy, we may consider using anti-IL 22 therapies in treating resistant, severe and recurrent cases of PR in the future; as it is responsible for initiation and maintenance of the inflammatory process of the disease. However the cost benefit relationship limits the usage of such expensive modalities. Other effective measures such as narrow band UVB and low dose UVA are available, cheap and more or less equally efficient. The usage of antiviral agents such as acyclovir is also beneficial in some cases. Because of the self limited benign course of the disease, simple measures as emollients and antihistamines are in many cases sufficient for the relief of patients.Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between IL-22 circulating levels and HHV-6 &7 infections in PR.