Janus Kinase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata: An Open-Label Comparative Study

December 2018 in “ Dermatology ”

Nawaf Al-Mutairi, Tarek Nour, Nasser Haji Hussain

Janus kinase inhibitors JAK inhibitors ruxolitinib tofacitinib alopecia areata SALT score AA

From the encyclopedia

Tofacitinib →

a JAK inhibitor for alopecia areata and other autoimmune conditions

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Studysummary This study found that oral JAK inhibitors, ruxolitinib and tofacitinib, are effective and well-tolerated for treating severe alopecia areata, with a similar degree of hair regrowth and relapse rates, but ruxolitinib induced faster initial hair regrowth.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The study evaluated the efficacy, side effects, and durability of two oral JAK inhibitors, ruxolitinib and tofacitinib, in treating severe alopecia areata (AA) in 75 patients. Both drugs induced significant hair regrowth, with mean SALT score changes of 93.8 ± 3.25 for ruxolitinib and 95.2 ± 2.69 for tofacitinib. Ruxolitinib showed a shorter duration for initial hair regrowth. There was no significant difference in hair regrowth or relapse rates between the groups after 6 months of treatment and 3 months of follow-up. Approximately two-thirds of cases experienced relapse. Both treatments were well tolerated without serious adverse effects, suggesting they are effective and safe for extensive AA.

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Research cited in this study

18 / 18 results

research Experience with Oral Tofacitinib in 8 Adolescent Patients with Alopecia Universalis

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This article updates a diagnostic tool (SALT II) for assessing hair loss by adding more precise measurements of scalp surface area, particularly useful for various types of alopecia.

research Tofacitinib for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata and Variants in Adolescents

139 citations , November 2016 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

In this retrospective review, tofacitinib treatment was associated with clinically significant hair regrowth in most adolescent patients with alopecia areata, though limitations suggest further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

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”

In this study, tofacitinib was reported to improve scalp hair regrowth in patients with severe alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, and alopecia universalis, showing a higher response in alopecia areata.

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222 citations , September 2016 in “JCI insight”

This research overview highlights that although JAK inhibitors show promise as potential treatments for alopecia areata based on recent insights into the disease mechanism, their efficacy has not yet been thoroughly evaluated in a systematic manner.

research Efficacy of Tofacitinib in Treatment of Alopecia Universalis in Two Patients

51 citations , June 2016 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

In this study, tofacitinib treatment was associated with significant hair regrowth in two patients with alopecia universalis over eight months, with minimal adverse effects reported.

research Transient Efficacy of Tofacitinib in Alopecia Areata Universalis

39 citations , April 2016 in “Case Reports in Dermatology”

This study observed initial hair regrowth in a businessman with alopecia areata universalis treated with tofacitinib, but the effect diminished, leading to renewed hair loss.

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This study observed that applying JAK-STAT pathway inhibitors to mouse and human skin led to rapid hair growth by inducing the anagen phase of hair follicles.

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research The Autoimmune Basis of Alopecia Areata: A Comprehensive Review

162 citations , October 2014 in “Autoimmunity reviews”

This review discusses alopecia areata, highlighting its autoimmune aspects, environmental triggers, and current treatment options, but reports no new clinical results; recent studies suggest JAK pathway intervention may offer therapeutic potential.

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

701 citations , August 2014 in “Nature medicine”

This study found that JAK inhibitors promote hair regrowth in both mice and human alopecia areata cases by blocking key immune pathways involved in disease development.

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”

This case report describes complete hair regrowth in a patient with alopecia universalis and improved psoriasis after treatment with the oral Janus kinase inhibitor, tofacitinib.

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

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

This updated guideline from the British Association of Dermatologists discusses current recommendations for managing alopecia areata but reports no new clinical research findings.

research Alopecia Areata: An Autoimmune Disease Causing Hair Loss

421 citations , April 2012 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition causing hair loss with no cure and treatments that often don't work well.

research Alopecia Areata: A New Treatment Plan

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This review discusses various therapeutic agents for alopecia areata, categorized by efficacy and safety, and highlights the lack of curative treatments and long-term outcome studies.

research Genome-Wide Association Study in Alopecia Areata Implicates Both Innate and Adaptive Immunity

717 citations , June 2010 in “Nature”

This study identified key genetic regions associated with alopecia areata, highlighting both acquired and innate immune involvement, with a novel link to the upregulation of ULBP ligands in autoimmune disease.

research Alopecia Areata Update

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