Tofacitinib for the Treatment of Lichen Planopilaris: A Case Series

September 2018 in “ Dermatologic therapy ”

Christine C. Yang, Trisha Khanna, B. Sallee, Angela M. Christiano, Lindsey Bordone

tofacitinib lichen planopilaris Janus kinase inhibitor JAK inhibitor LPP Activity Index Xeljanz

Studysummary This study found that treatment with oral tofacitinib, alone or with other therapies, was associated with clinical improvement in most patients with recalcitrant lichen planopilaris. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

In this case series, 10 patients with recalcitrant lichen planopilaris (LPP) were treated with oral tofacitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, at doses of 5 mg twice or three times daily for 2–19 months. The treatment was administered either as monotherapy or in combination with other therapies. Eight patients showed clinical improvement, with significant reductions in the LPP Activity Index (LPPAI) from an average of 6.22 before treatment to 3.08 after treatment (p = .0014), indicating a reduction in LPPAI ranging from 30 to 94%. One patient experienced a 10-pound weight gain, but no other adverse effects were reported. The study concluded that oral tofacitinib could lead to measurable improvement in recalcitrant LPP.

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