Secukinumab-Induced Alopecia Areata Successfully Treated with Tofacitinib in a Patient with Palmoplantar Pustulosis

October 2023 in “ Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology ”

Chen Zhang, Tianlun Kang, Tangliang Qian, Mingyue Ma, Xiaofeng Hou, Chen Li

secukinumab alopecia areata tofacitinib palmoplantar pustulosis interleukin-17 biologics IL-17 AA PPP

From the encyclopedia

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Tofacitinib →

a JAK inhibitor for alopecia areata and other autoimmune conditions

Studysummary In this report, a 35-year-old female with palmoplantar pustulosis undergoing secukinumab treatment developed alopecia areata, a rare side effect attributed to paradoxical reactions with IL-17 inhibitors; switching to tofacitinib improved both conditions.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

A 35-year-old female patient with Palmoplantar Pustulosis (PPP) developed Alopecia Areata (AA), a rare side effect, after treatment with secukinumab, a drug that targets interleukin-17 (IL-17). After discontinuing secukinumab and starting treatment with tofacitinib, both her AA and PPP significantly improved. The study suggests that tofacitinib could be a potential treatment for AA induced by biologics during PPP treatment. However, more research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these findings.

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Research cited in this study

3 / 3 results

research IL-17 Inhibition: Is It the Long-Awaited Savior for Alopecia Areata?

28 citations , March 2018 in “Archives of Dermatological Research”

research Safety and Efficacy of the JAK Inhibitor Tofacitinib Citrate in Patients with Alopecia Areata

222 citations , September 2016 in “JCI insight”

This research overview highlights that although JAK inhibitors show promise as potential treatments for alopecia areata based on recent insights into the disease mechanism, their efficacy has not yet been thoroughly evaluated in a systematic manner.

research Alopecia Areata as Another Immune-Mediated Disease Developed in Patients Treated with Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Blocker Agents

61 citations , June 2010 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This study highlights cases of alopecia areata that developed during anti-TNF-α therapy, suggesting a potential link or increased frequency, particularly among individuals with a personal or family history of autoimmune diseases.