Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata with Baricitinib
October 2019
in “
JAAD Case Reports
”
Studysummary This article discusses the role of interleukin-15 and Janus kinase inhibitors in alopecia areata based on a murine model and reports no new experimental results.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
In a case report from 2019, a woman in her 60s with severe alopecia areata (AA), characterized by complete scalp and near-complete body hair loss, was treated with the Janus kinase (JAK) 1/2 inhibitor, baricitinib. Initially, she received 2 mg daily without hair regrowth after 4 months, but upon increasing the dose to 4 mg daily, she experienced 97% scalp hair regrowth after 8 months, as well as regrowth of eyebrows and eyelashes. After 13 months of treatment, no adverse effects were reported. This case is notable as it is the first report of a patient with AA successfully treated with baricitinib monotherapy. The case adds to the evidence supporting the efficacy of JAK inhibitors for AA and highlights the potential of baricitinib, a relatively new JAK1/2 inhibitor, in treating severe cases of AA.
