الفهرس 
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Abstract
Alopecia areata is a common, clinically heterogenous, immune-mediated, non-scarring hair loss disorder. The disease may be limited to one or more discrete, well-circumscribed round or oval patches of hair loss on the scalp or body, or it may affect the entire scalp or the entire body. Although AA is not life threatening, psychological comorbidities are common and result in major impact on patients’ lives.
Interleukin-15 is a pleiotropic cytokine which exerts the multiple biological effects on different body cell types. It affects the functions of the cells of the immune system, both innate and adaptive and hence, it has an important role during inflammation and during the immune responses to infections and infestations.
The role of Interleukin-15 in the pathogenesis of AA was suggested when the blocking of IL-15 receptor beta reduced the number of CD8+NKG2D+ T cells in the skin and prevented the development of AA in the mouse model of the disease.
The aim of this study was to assess serum levels of interleukin-15 in AA patients which may help to clarify the pathogenesis of this common and important skin disease.
This case control study was carried out in the Out-Patient Clinics of Dermatology and Venereology Department, Suez Canal University Hospital, and included 40 participants; 20 with AA and 20 healthy controls, during the period from July 2020 to September 2020.
An informed consent was taken from each participant after detailed personal