Janus Kinase Inhibitor as a Therapeutic Option in Alopecia Areata: Case Report

April 2023 in “ Revista colombiana de reumatología ”

Lina María Saldarriaga Rivera, Christian David Marín Giraldo, Fabián Andrés Hernández Velasco

Janus kinase inhibitor alopecia areata tofacitinib minoxidil corticosteroids finasteride cryotherapy JAK inhibitors JAK inhibitor AA Rogaine Propecia

TLDR JAK inhibitors like tofacitinib can effectively treat severe alopecia areata.

This case report discusses a 24-year-old female with severe alopecia areata (AA) who showed significant improvement after one month of treatment with the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor tofacitinib. Despite previous treatments, including minoxidil, corticosteroids, finasteride, and cryotherapy, the patient experienced rapid progression of AA. The report highlights the high emotional and social burden of AA and suggests that JAK inhibitors, such as tofacitinib, can be effective in difficult-to-control cases. This is the first documented successful use of tofacitinib for AA in Colombia.

View this study on sciencedirect.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

11 / 11 results

research JAK Inhibitors for Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

130 citations, February 2019 in “JEADV. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology/Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

JAK inhibitors are effective for treating alopecia areata, with most patients seeing hair growth after treatment.

An Open-Label Pilot Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Tofacitinib in Moderate to Severe Patch-Type Alopecia Areata, Totalis, and Universalis

research An Open-Label Pilot Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Tofacitinib in Moderate to Severe Patch-Type Alopecia Areata, Totalis, and Universalis

130 citations, February 2018 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Tofacitinib may help treat severe hair loss, but more research is needed.

research Alopecia Areata: Treatment Options and Efficacy

182 citations, December 2017 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Some treatments can help with a hair loss condition called alopecia areata, but none ensure lasting results; choices depend on the person, with JAK inhibitors showing promise for severe cases.

research JAK Inhibitors in Dermatology: The Promise of a New Drug Class

355 citations, January 2017 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

JAK inhibitors show promise for treating skin conditions like eczema, hair loss, and psoriasis.

research Tofacitinib for the Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata and Variants: A Study of 90 Patients

238 citations, November 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Tofacitinib is effective and safe for severe hair loss, but full regrowth is less likely after 10 years of hair loss.

research Safety and Efficacy of the JAK Inhibitor Tofacitinib Citrate in Patients with Alopecia Areata

222 citations, September 2016 in “JCI insight”

Tofacitinib is safe and effective for severe alopecia areata, but hair loss may return 2 months after stopping treatment.

research Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients With Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review

95 citations, July 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

People with alopecia areata, a skin disease, generally have a poor quality of life, especially if more of their scalp is affected.

research Alopecia Areata and Health-Related Quality of Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

128 citations, February 2016 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Alopecia areata significantly lowers the quality of life, especially in emotional and mental health aspects.

research Alopecia Areata Is Driven by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes and Is Reversed by JAK Inhibition

701 citations, August 2014 in “Nature medicine”

Alopecia areata can be reversed by JAK inhibitors, promoting hair regrowth.

research Killing Two Birds with One Stone: Oral Tofacitinib Reverses Alopecia Universalis in a Patient with Plaque Psoriasis

185 citations, June 2014 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

A man with severe hair loss and skin disease regrew his hair with no side effects after taking tofacitinib.

research British Association of Dermatologists’ Guidelines for the Management of Alopecia Areata 2012

218 citations, April 2012 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Guidelines suggest various treatments for alopecia areata, but leaving it untreated is also an option as 80% cases may recover on their own.

Related Research

4 / 4 results

research Alopecia Areata: A Multifactorial Autoimmune Condition

148 citations, December 2018 in “Journal of autoimmunity”

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease causing patchy hair loss, often with other autoimmune disorders, but its exact causes are unknown.

research Linear Alopecia Areata

4 citations, November 2018 in “JAAD case reports”

Alopecia areata can sometimes appear as a straight line of hair loss instead of round patches.

research Treating Resistant Cases of Alopecia Universalis

May 2018 in “Journal of cosmetology & trichology”

Combining platelet-rich plasma therapy with prostaglandin-F eye drops can significantly regrow hair in alopecia universalis.

research Overview of Alopecia Areata

110 citations, December 2013 in “The journal of investigative dermatology. Symposium proceedings/The Journal of investigative dermatology symposium proceedings”

Alopecia areata is a genetic and immune-related hair loss condition that is often associated with other autoimmune diseases and does not typically cause permanent damage to hair follicles.