Efficacy of JAK 1/2 Inhibition in the Treatment of Diffuse Non-Scarring Alopecia Due to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
January 2020
in “
Annals of the rheumatic diseases
”
TLDR Baricitinib might help treat hair loss in lupus patients, but more research is needed.
The study investigated the efficacy of Baricitinib, a JAK 1/2 inhibitor, in treating diffuse non-scarring alopecia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The JAK-STAT pathway, crucial for type I interferons, is implicated in SLE-associated inflammation. Baricitinib, already approved for rheumatoid arthritis, showed promise in improving SLE symptoms like arthritis and rash, though specific effects on skin involvement, including alopecia, were not detailed. Diffuse non-scarring alopecia, a common but non-life-threatening symptom of SLE, significantly impacts patients' quality of life.
