Excellent Response to Tofacitinib Treatment in a Patient with Alopecia Universalis

January 2017 in “ Acta dermatovenerologica Alpina, Pannonica et Adriatica (Tiskana izd.) ”

Funda Erduran, Esra Adışen, A. Burhan Aksakal

tofacitinib alopecia universalis Janus kinase inhibitor steroids minoxidil cyclosporine JAK inhibitor Rogaine

From the encyclopedia

Tofacitinib →

a JAK inhibitor for alopecia areata and other autoimmune conditions

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Studysummary This case study reports that a 23-year-old woman with alopecia universalis experienced complete hair regrowth after six months of treatment with tofacitinib, a JAK-3 inhibitor.

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

In a 2017 case report, a 23-year-old female with alopecia universalis (AU) experienced complete hair regrowth after treatment with tofacitinib, a selective Janus kinase inhibitor. Despite not responding to previous treatments, including steroids, minoxidil, and cyclosporine, the patient began with a tofacitinib dose of 5 mg twice daily. After 2 months, partial hair regrowth was observed, and the dose was increased to 10 mg in the morning and 5 mg at night. By 6 months, she achieved full hair regrowth with no significant side effects. This case indicates that tofacitinib may be an effective treatment for AU, although more research is needed to verify its safety and efficacy.

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Research cited in this study

9 / 9 results

research Experience with Oral Tofacitinib in 8 Adolescent Patients with Alopecia Universalis

49 citations , March 2017 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This case series found that oral tofacitinib treatment in eight adolescents with alopecia universalis led to significant regrowth of hair, though relapse is likely after stopping therapy.

research Tofacitinib for the Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata and Variants: A Study of 90 Patients

238 citations , November 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In this study, tofacitinib was reported to improve scalp hair regrowth in patients with severe alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, and alopecia universalis, showing a higher response in alopecia areata.

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 Efficacy of Tofacitinib in Treatment of Alopecia Universalis in Two Patients

51 citations , June 2016 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

In this study, tofacitinib treatment was associated with significant hair regrowth in two patients with alopecia universalis over eight months, with minimal adverse effects reported.

research Transient Efficacy of Tofacitinib in Alopecia Areata Universalis

39 citations , April 2016 in “Case Reports in Dermatology”

This study observed initial hair regrowth in a businessman with alopecia areata universalis treated with tofacitinib, but the effect diminished, leading to renewed hair loss.

research Reversal of Alopecia Areata Following Treatment With the JAK1/2 Inhibitor Baricitinib

184 citations , February 2015 in “EBioMedicine”

This study observed that baricitinib treatment led to significant improvement in a patient's alopecia areata symptoms and suggests further clinical trials to explore its potential as a treatment.

research Alopecia Areata Is Driven by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes and Is Reversed by JAK Inhibition

701 citations , August 2014 in “Nature medicine”

This study found that JAK inhibitors promote hair regrowth in both mice and human alopecia areata cases by blocking key immune pathways involved in disease development.

research Killing Two Birds with One Stone: Oral Tofacitinib Reverses Alopecia Universalis in a Patient with Plaque Psoriasis

185 citations , June 2014 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This case report describes complete hair regrowth in a patient with alopecia universalis and improved psoriasis after treatment with the oral Janus kinase inhibitor, tofacitinib.

research British Association of Dermatologists’ Guidelines for the Management of Alopecia Areata 2012

218 citations , April 2012 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This updated guideline from the British Association of Dermatologists discusses current recommendations for managing alopecia areata but reports no new clinical research findings.