A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Efficacy of Oral Baricitinib and Methotrexate in Treating Severe Alopecia Areata
April 2025
Studysummary In this randomized controlled trial, researchers found that after six months of treatment, oral baricitinib was significantly more effective than methotrexate for improving hair regrowth in patients with severe alopecia areata, as measured by the Severity of Alopecia Tool score.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
A randomized controlled trial conducted at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University compared the efficacy of oral baricitinib and methotrexate in treating severe alopecia areata in 84 patients. Group A received baricitinib, while Group B received methotrexate. After 6 months, baricitinib significantly outperformed methotrexate, with a greater reduction in the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score and higher rates of excellent (SALT75) and complete (SALT90) responses. Specifically, 57.1% of patients in Group A achieved a complete response compared to none in Group B. The study concludes that baricitinib is a superior treatment option for severe alopecia areata, though further research is needed to evaluate its long-term efficacy.
