الفهرس 
LEPROSY OVERVIEWOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 158 |  |  |
| | | from | 158 | | |
Abstract
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by M. leprae. The objective of this study was to evaluate serum levels of TH 17 effector cytokine; IL-22 and TH 1 effector cytokine; IFN-γ, in untreated leprosy patients, compared to healthy controls, to gain further insight about the role of these cytokines in the immuno-pathogenesis of leprosy.
The study was conducted on eighhty four persons: Forty-three leprotic patients collected from Dermatology and Leprosy El Qal’aa Hospital and Ain Shams University Hospital, and : Forty-three matched healthy volunteers, serving as controls.
Patients were subdivided into groups according to Ridley and Jopling classification, WHO classification, and according to the presence or absence of reactional leprosy, as well as the bacillary load.
Blood samples were collected from both patients and controls for estimation of IL-22 and IFN-γ by ELISA.
We found no statistically difference between IL-22 levels in patients compared to controls also no statistically difference comparing different patients subgroups
We found that the levels of IFN-γ was significantly higher in cases compared to controls. No statistically significant difference was found comparing different patient’s subgroups. Statistically negative correlation was detected between the serum levels of both IL22 and IFN-γ