Unprovoked Pulmonary Emboli in a Patient With Alopecia Areata Treated With Ritlecitinib: A Case Report

This case report discusses a 63-year-old woman with alopecia areata (AA) who developed unprovoked pulmonary emboli after starting treatment with ritlecitinib, a Janus kinase 3/TEC family inhibitor. Despite no prior history of venous thromboembolism or malignancy, the patient experienced severe adverse events, including acute kidney injury, new-onset atrial fibrillation, and infection of unknown origin, following the initiation of ritlecitinib. The case underscores the potential risks associated with Janus kinase inhibitors in treating AA, highlighting the need for ongoing pharmacovigilance to better understand these risks. The patient was treated with anticoagulants and discharged in stable condition, with further investigations planned to rule out malignancy.