Autophagy Stimulation Improves Erythroid Proliferative Capacity in Models of SF3B1 Mutant MDS

In a retrospective study of 13 adolescent patients with alopecia areata (AA) aged 12 to 17 years, treatment with the Janus kinase 1/3 inhibitor, tofacitinib, resulted in clinically significant hair regrowth in 9 patients. The median percent change in the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score was 93% (mean 61%, range 1%-100%) after an average treatment duration of 6.5 months. The adverse events reported were mild. However, the study had limitations such as its retrospective design, small sample size, and absence of a control group. Despite these limitations, the findings suggest that tofacitinib is a promising therapy for AA in adolescents and warrants further investigation in prospective clinical trials.