ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expressions of interleukin (IL)-21 (IL-21) and IL-22 in patients with Kimura's disease (KD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Expressions of IL-21 and IL-22 were examined immunohistochemically in 36 patients with KD and 7 normal controls. The integral absorbance (IA) of the two groups was compared. Meanwhile, clinical data were reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The IA of IL-21 [M(Q): 1 373 418 (1 800 926)] and IL-22 [M(Q): 462 086(484 672)] in KD was significantly higher than those in normal controls [M(Q): 70 445(44 658), 51 599(71 241), P < 0.05]. The overexpression of IL-21 was significantly associated with pruritus (Z = -1.993, P < 0.05). Moreover, IL-21 was identified for disease recurrence (Z = -2.303, P < 0.05). There was a significant association between the expression of IL-22 and the number of affected sites (Z = -1.979, P < 0.05). In addition, IL-22 was significantly higher in the high-eosinophils group than in the low-eosinophils group (Z = -2.025, P < 0.05). There was no association between IL-21, IL-22 and age, gender, laterality, maximum size.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>IL-21 and IL-22 may be involved in the pathogenesis of KD.</p>