Experience with Oral Tofacitinib in Severe Alopecia Areata with Different Clinical Responses

February 2021 in “ Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ”

Didem Dinçer Rota, Mehmet Ali Can Emeksiz, Fatma Gülru Erdoğan, Dilsun Yıldırım

tofacitinib alopecia areata alopecia universalis SALT score acneiform eruption oily skin elevated transaminases Xeljanz

TLDR Oral tofacitinib helped regrow hair in over half of the patients with severe alopecia, but relapses and side effects were common.

In a study of 13 patients with severe alopecia areata (AA) and alopecia universalis (AU), oral tofacitinib treatment resulted in hair growth in 61.5% of the participants, with 53.8% showing a good response indicated by a 76%-100% change in SALT score. The treatment was more effective for AA than AU, with a 38.5% resistance rate observed. Relapses were common, occurring on average four months after stopping treatment. Side effects included acneiform eruption and oily skin in 69.2% of patients, and elevated transaminases in 23.0%. Continuous use of tofacitinib was necessary to maintain hair growth, and the study suggested that early treatment initiation could lead to better outcomes. The study was limited by its single-center design and lack of a control group.

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13 / 13 results

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8 / 8 results

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