Case Report: Successful Treatment of Alopecia Universalis With Tofacitinib and Increased Cytokine Levels: Normal Therapeutic Reaction or Danger Signal?

    June 2022 in “ Frontiers in Immunology ”
    Li Yu, Huiqian Yu, Shuai Zhang, Yanzhao Hao, Shoumin Zhang
    Image of study
    TLDR Tofacitinib regrew hair in a man with total hair loss but raised cytokine levels, needing more research on possible side effects.
    A 53-year-old man with severe Alopecia Universalis (AU), a condition causing total hair loss, was treated with the drug tofacitinib, leading to hair regrowth over 24 weeks and a significant decrease in his Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) and Alopecia Areata Investigator Global Assessment (AA-IGA™) scores to zero. However, the treatment also resulted in a significant increase in peripheral blood cytokine levels, including Th1 cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL12p70, Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and Th17 cytokines IL-17. These levels decreased after discontinuation of tofacitinib, suggesting potential unknown adverse reactions. The study concludes that while tofacitinib is a promising treatment for AU, more research is needed to understand the increase in cytokine levels during treatment and its potential adverse effects.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    10 / 10 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 1000+ results

      community No hair, don't care! [24/F] :)

       62 upvotes 9 years ago
      A woman with alopecia universalis shares her positive experience of being bald, finding it freeing and less worrisome. She also discusses her skincare routine using Korean products.

      community Alopecia Areata Question

      in Treatment  2 upvotes 4 years ago
      A user with alopecia totalis, borderline universalis, seeks advice on getting into a Xeljanz trial or appealing insurance for coverage. They experienced significant hair regrowth but are now seeing hair loss again and want to try Xeljanz.

      community Olumiant alternative for Alopecia Areata?

      in Treatment  1 upvotes 2 years ago
      A user with alopecia areata is considering treatment options like injections or Olumiant but is concerned about cost and whether delaying treatment will lead to permanent hair loss. They are seeking alternative treatments that are more affordable for a college student.

      community Hairloss all over body and head

      in Treatment  2 upvotes 2 weeks ago
      A 25-year-old experiencing hair thinning all over the body and head, despite using minoxidil and having low vitamin D levels, is advised to seek a second opinion from a dermatologist specializing in hair loss. The likely diagnosis is diffuse alopecia areata, which may require treatment with a JAK inhibitor.

    Related Research

    10 / 10 results