Efficacy and Safety of Tofacitinib in Pediatric Alopecia Areata: A Prospective Observational Study

May 2025 in “ Journal of Pharmacy And Bioallied Sciences ”

Farah Aziz Khan, Neha Shukla, C. Jaiswal, Dileep Dandotiya

tofacitinib alopecia areata JAK inhibitors Severity of Alopecia Tool

TLDR Tofacitinib effectively promotes hair regrowth in children with alopecia areata, but more research on long-term safety is needed.

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in 50 pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe alopecia areata over 24 weeks. Of the 45 participants who completed the study, there was a significant reduction in the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score from a mean of 66.2 to 25.7. Complete or near-complete hair regrowth was observed in 42.2% of patients, while 37.8% experienced partial regrowth. The study concluded that tofacitinib has a favorable risk–benefit profile for treating pediatric alopecia areata, suggesting JAK inhibitors as a potential therapeutic option, though further research on long-term safety and relapse rates is needed.

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Research cited in this study

5 / 5 results

research Effectiveness of Tofacitinib in Pre-Adolescent Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Case Series and Literature Review

September 2023 in “Acta dermato-venereologica”

Tofacitinib is a safe and effective treatment for hair loss in children with Alopecia Areata.

research Treatment of Pediatric Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review

48 citations, April 2021 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Topical corticosteroids are the best initial treatment for children's alopecia areata.

research Alopecia Areata: Treatment Options and Efficacy

182 citations, December 2017 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Some treatments can help with a hair loss condition called alopecia areata, but none ensure lasting results; choices depend on the person, with JAK inhibitors showing promise for severe cases.

research Alopecia Areata: An Autoimmune Disease Causing Hair Loss

421 citations, April 2012 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition causing hair loss with no cure and treatments that often don't work well.

research Genome-Wide Association Study in Alopecia Areata Implicates Both Innate and Adaptive Immunity

717 citations, June 2010 in “Nature”

Alopecia areata involves both innate and adaptive immunity, with specific genes linked to the disease.

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