Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata with the Oral Janus Kinase Inhibitor, Tofacitinib: A Retrospective Chart Review

The document detailed a retrospective study evaluating the effectiveness and safety of tofacitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor, in treating 13 patients with long-standing, treatment-resistant moderate to severe alopecia areata. These patients had an average of 93% scalp hair loss and had not responded to previous therapies. After treatment with tofacitinib, hair regrowth varied significantly among patients, ranging from 2% to 90%, with an average regrowth of 44.3% and a median of 50.5%. The study concluded that tofacitinib could be effective for patients with over 75% hair loss, but results varied widely. It was suggested that treatment trials should last at least 4 months to a year to adequately evaluate the drug's efficacy.