Efficacy and Safety of Tofacitinib in Pediatric Patients with Alopecia Areata: A Prospective Cohort Study

The study assessed the efficacy and safety of oral tofacitinib in 30 pediatric patients with moderate to severe alopecia areata over 12 months. Patients, aged 4-17, received 5 mg of tofacitinib twice daily, resulting in a 76.8% improvement in mean SALT scores, with 77% achieving at least 50% improvement and 13.3% experiencing complete hair regrowth. Quality of life improved significantly, and the treatment was generally well tolerated with mild side effects like upper respiratory infections and headaches. No serious adverse events were reported. The study suggests tofacitinib as a promising treatment for pediatric AA, but emphasizes the need for larger, controlled trials to confirm these findings and establish long-term safety and efficacy.