Effect of Narrow Band Ultraviolet B Therapy on Serum Levels of Interleukin22 in Egyptian Patients with Psoriasis

Background and Objective: Psoriasis is a chronic hyper-proliferative skin disease. The IL22 and other cytokines play a role in pathogenesis of psoriasis. Narrow band-ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) is one of the treatment arsenal used in psoriasis. The aim of this prospective study was to study the changes in levels of IL22 before and after NB-UVB therapy, the relation of IL22 to severity of disease and the ability of baseline IL22 level to predict the outcome of NB-UVB therapy. Methodology: Thirty five patients with chronic plaque psoriasis were studied against 44 healthy volunteers as control. The IL22 levels were measured in control. The IL22 in and PASI score values were recorded in psoriasis patients at baseline and after 12 weeks of NB-UVB therapy. Results: Baseline IL22 level was significantly higher than control and declined after NB-UVB to insignificant values. The IL22 levels showed significant positive correlation with PASI score before and also after NB-UVB. No significant differences were recorded in IL22 levels in responders vs non-responders to NB-UVB. Conclusion: The IL22 levels is increased in psoriasis and could be used as a laboratory marker of the severity of disease, but could not predict the response to NB-UVB.