Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Oral Tofacitinib for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata in Children

This study assessed the efficacy and safety of oral tofacitinib in treating alopecia areata in 26 children aged 3-18 years. Over an average treatment duration of 6.73 months, tofacitinib significantly reduced the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score from 68.58 to 17.65, indicating notable hair regrowth. However, 34.6% of patients experienced spontaneous relapse, and 80% relapsed when the dosage was tapered. While generally well-tolerated, with mild adverse effects like upper respiratory tract infections and headaches, the study emphasizes the importance of maintaining the dosage to prevent relapse and suggests the need for long-term safety monitoring.