Discontinuation and Restart of Janus Kinase Inhibitors Due to Pregnancy in Alopecia Areata: A Case Series
August 2025
in “
International Journal of Women’s Dermatology
”
TLDR Stopping and restarting JAK inhibitors during pregnancy in women with alopecia areata leads to hair loss and regrowth, with most pregnancies resulting in healthy babies.
This case series investigates the impact of discontinuing and restarting Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) in 9 women with severe alopecia areata (AA) during 14 pregnancies. All patients experienced significant hair loss after stopping JAKi treatment, with a mean increase in the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score of 52.3. Postpartum, resuming JAKi therapy led to hair regrowth that matched or exceeded pre-discontinuation levels. The study emphasizes the psychological distress of hair loss in AA patients and the need for treatment guidelines for pregnant women. Out of 14 pregnancies, 13 resulted in healthy newborns, with one fetal demise. Further research is needed on the safety and management of JAKis during pregnancy.
