Brazilian Experience of Treating Alopecia Universalis with Novel Antirheumatic Therapy Tofacitinib: A Case Series

July 2017 in “ Rheumatology and Therapy ”

Morton Scheinberg, Regina Adalva de Lucena Couto Océa, Bóris Afonso Cruz, Sineida Berbert Ferreira

alopecia universalis tofacitinib Janus kinase inhibitor idiopathic alopecia universalis etanercept rheumatoid arthritis alopecia areata JAK signaling pathway AU JAK inhibitor RA

From the encyclopedia

Tofacitinib →

a JAK inhibitor for alopecia areata and other autoimmune conditions

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Studysummary This review examines the outcomes of treating Brazilian patients with alopecia universalis using tofacitinib and highlights the need for randomized controlled trials to determine optimal dosing and duration.

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

In a case series from 2017, four Brazilian patients with alopecia universalis (AU) were treated with tofacitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor. Two of the patients had idiopathic AU, and the other two developed AU as a side effect of etanercept treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. All patients showed progressive hair growth with tofacitinib at doses used for rheumatoid arthritis. The study indicated that tofacitinib could be a promising treatment for severe alopecia areata and its variants. However, it highlighted the necessity for randomized controlled trials to determine the most effective dose and treatment duration. No adverse events were reported, but the authors stressed the importance of monitoring for potential side effects. The study concluded that the JAK signaling pathway might be a viable target for AU treatment and called for further research to verify tofacitinib's efficacy for this condition.

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Research cited in this study

14 / 14 results

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