Alopecia Areata Flare Patterns in Children and Young Adults on Systemic Tofacitinib

March 2021 in “ Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ”

Paige L. McKenzie, Leslie Castelo‐Soccio

alopecia areata tofacitinib Janus kinase inhibitor systemic therapy hair regrowth adjuvant therapy AA JAK inhibitor

From the encyclopedia

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Tofacitinib →

a JAK inhibitor for alopecia areata and other autoimmune conditions

Studysummary This study observed that some children and young adults with alopecia areata experienced flares during long-term tofacitinib treatment, despite initial successful hair regrowth.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The study examined the flare patterns of 21 pediatric and young adult patients with moderate-to-severe alopecia areata (AA) while on systemic tofacitinib, a systemic Janus kinase inhibitor used off-label for AA treatment. The patients were on tofacitinib for an average of 31 months. Eight patients (38.1%) experienced an AA flare while on daily tofacitinib therapy, with the mean time to flare being 13.6 months. No patient had more than one flare while on therapy. During acute flares, some patients continued with the initial tofacitinib dose, while others had their dosage increased. Most patients tolerated tofacitinib well, but some reported side effects like mild infections and gastrointestinal upset. The study concluded that while tofacitinib can lead to rapid hair regrowth, flares are possible during treatment. Patients should be informed about potential decreased treatment response and be prepared to discuss dosage escalation and/or adjuvant therapy during flares to minimize hair loss.

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Research cited in this study

3 / 3 results

research Tofacitinib for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata in Preadolescent Children

40 citations , September 2018 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This letter discusses the emerging use of Janus kinase inhibitors, specifically oral tofacitinib, for treating alopecia areata in children, but reports no new clinical findings.

Balance of Tofacitinib Efficacy and Disease Flare in the Treatment of Alopecia Universalis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

research Balance of Tofacitinib Efficacy and Disease Flare in the Treatment of Alopecia Universalis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

9 citations , August 2018 in “JAAD Case Reports”

This article discusses alopecia areata, highlighting its autoimmune nature and the lack of FDA-approved treatments, without providing new research findings.

research Experience with Oral Tofacitinib in 8 Adolescent Patients with Alopecia Universalis

49 citations , March 2017 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This case series found that oral tofacitinib treatment in eight adolescents with alopecia universalis led to significant regrowth of hair, though relapse is likely after stopping therapy.