Janus Kinase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

January 2023 in “ Prague Medical Report ”

Athanasios J. Stefanis

alopecia areata Janus kinase inhibitors JAK inhibitors baricitinib immunosuppressive medications topical immunomodulators autoimmune disease

TLDR JAK inhibitors, like baricitinib, are effective and safe for treating alopecia areata.

Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease causing non-scarring hair loss, has traditionally been treated with nonspecific immunosuppressive medications and topical immunomodulators. The identification of the Janus kinase (JAK) pathway's role in the disease has led to more targeted treatments. Clinical trials have shown positive outcomes for JAK inhibitors, resulting in the approval of baricitinib as the first on-label treatment for alopecia areata. This review summarizes the role, efficacy, and safety of various JAK inhibitors in treating the condition.

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Research cited in this study

14 / 14 results

research Two Phase 3 Trials of Baricitinib for Alopecia Areata

148 citations, March 2022 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Baricitinib was effective in treating alopecia areata in two major trials.

research A Comprehensive Literature Review of JAK Inhibitors in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

40 citations, June 2021 in “Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology”

JAK inhibitors show promise in effectively treating hair loss from alopecia areata.

research Pathomechanisms of Immune-Mediated Alopecia

45 citations, April 2019 in “International Immunology”

The study concluded that immune cells attacking hair follicles cause hair loss in alopecia, with genetics and environment also playing a role, and highlighted the potential of certain treatments.

research What Is Behind the 'Swarm of Bees' in Alopecia Areata

7 citations, November 2018 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Alopecia areata is caused by immune system issues, and JAK inhibitors might help treat it.

research JAK Inhibitors: New Players in the Field of Immune-Mediated Diseases Beyond Rheumatoid Arthritis

223 citations, September 2018 in “Rheumatology”

JAK inhibitors are effective in treating various immune-related diseases, not just rheumatoid arthritis.

research Role of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

53 citations, July 2018 in “Drug design, development and therapy”

Janus kinase inhibitors show promise in treating alopecia areata but need better topical formulations.

research Trichoscopy of Alopecia Areata: An Update

89 citations, March 2018 in “The Journal of Dermatology”

Trichoscopy helps diagnose and monitor alopecia areata by looking at a combination of specific hair and scalp features.

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 Tofacitinib 2% Ointment, a Topical Janus Kinase Inhibitor, for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata: A Pilot Study of 10 Patients

48 citations, November 2017 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Tofacitinib 2% ointment helped hair regrow in 3 out of 10 patients with alopecia areata, but caused side effects like scalp irritation and raised cholesterol in some.

research Topical Janus Kinase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Pediatric Alopecia Areata

83 citations, June 2017 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Topical JAK inhibitors may help children with alopecia areata regrow hair.

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 Oral Ruxolitinib Induces Hair Regrowth in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Alopecia Areata

196 citations, September 2016 in “JCI insight”

Ruxolitinib effectively regrows hair in most patients with severe hair loss.

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 Alopecia Areata Update

244 citations, January 2010 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

The document says current treatments for alopecia areata do not cure or prevent it, and it's hard to judge their effectiveness due to spontaneous remission and lack of studies.

Related Research

3 / 3 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.