$INF-\gamma$ serum level in patients with morphoea and atrophoderma Pasini-Pierini considering clinical activity of disease

The fundamental component in the pathogenesis of systemic scleroderma, as well as localized scleroderma, is immunologically determined fibrosis. $INF-\gamma$ is considered to be a strong, natural fibrosis inhibitor. Low level of this cytokine was observed in other skin diseases with the course of fibrosis. The aim of the study was to measure $INF-\gamma$ level in serum collected from patients with localized scleroderma. The group of localized scleroderma patients comprised 18 patients with en plaque type of localized scleroderma (M), 18 patients with atrophoderma Pasini-Pierini (APP) and 5 patients with both types of skin lesions (M + APP). Control group serum was taken from 18 healthy volunteers. $INF-\gamma$ level was assessed with the ELISA method. $INF-\gamma$ serum level was lower in all patients with localized scleroderma in comparison with the control group. $INF-\gamma$ serum level in patients with M + APP was also lower, whereas in patients with APP it was higher than in the control group. No statistical significance was observed. INF-\gamma serum level was significantly (p=0.04) lower in patients with the active stage of M compared with patients with the inactive one. Moreover, it was lower - but not significantly - in the active stage of M + APP and the whole group of patients with localized scleroderma than in inactive ones. $INF-\gamma$ serum level was higher only in the active stage of APP. $INF-\gamma$ serum level correlated with the number and area of skin lesions in all LS patients. The higher the number of skin lesions present, the lower was the $INF-\gamma$ serum level observed. The lowest $INF-\gamma$ serum level was observed in patients with greater than 30 cm2 area of skin affected by lesions (p=0.003). $INF-\gamma$ serum level was lower in all patients with localized scleroderma in comparison with the control group. Moreover, $INF-\gamma$ serum level was lower in the active stage of diseases in comparison with the inactive one. Serum level of $INF-\gamma$ might be a useful factor in predicting the intensity of skin fibrosis in localized scleroderma