TLDR Oral tofacitinib may be an effective future treatment for children with severe alopecia areata, but more research is needed.
The document presents a case report of a 6-year-old girl with severe alopecia areata (AA), a common autoimmune disease characterized by non-scarring hair loss, who was effectively treated using oral tofacitinib therapy. The girl experienced more than 90% hair regrowth after 3 months of treatment and complete regrowth after 6 months, with no relapse observed after dose reduction. The document also reviews global cases where tofacitinib was used to treat pediatric AA, indicating that it usually leads to hair growth within the first 3 months and significant regrowth after 6 months of continued therapy. The document concludes that oral tofacitinib could be a potential treatment for children with AA in the future, but further research is needed to investigate its maximum effect, possibility of relapse after cessation of therapy, maintenance measures, and long-term impact.
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