The Changing Landscape of Alopecia Areata: The Therapeutic Paradigm

The 2017 document reviewed the challenges and emerging treatments for Alopecia Areata (AA), highlighting the lack of FDA-approved treatments for extensive AA at the time and the need for better therapeutic options. It discussed the role of various cytokines in AA's pathogenesis and the potential of JAK inhibitors like ruxolitinib, tofacitinib, and baricitinib, which were in clinical trials and showed promise in inducing hair regrowth. The document also mentioned other treatments such as PDE4 inhibitors, with apremilast showing potential, and IL-23 inhibitors like ustekinumab, which demonstrated significant hair regrowth in patients. It noted the mixed results of other biological agents and the need for large, placebo-controlled clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of these treatments. The document concluded that the therapeutic paradigm for AA was likely to change significantly with the introduction of targeted drugs, similar to the advancements seen in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis treatment.