Oral tofacitinib for the treatment of alopecia areata in pediatric patients

Background Alopecia areata (AA) is characterized by the loss of hair, often in well-demarcated areas. While the pathogenesis of AA is not entirely understood, it is known that CD8 T cell-mediated destruction of the hair follicle occurs. There are no curative therapies for AA, although several therapies have been utilized with variable results. Oral tofacitinib, a JAK inhibitor, has been demonstrated to be efficacious and well tolerated in the treatment of adult AA. However, few studies have examined the clinical efficacy and tolerability of oral tofacitinib in the treatment of pediatric AA. Objective To summarize the clinical outcomes of pediatric patients with AA treated with oral tofacitinib at the University of Colorado Hospital Dermatology Clinic. Methods This is a retrospective case series conducted at the University of Colorado Hospital Dermatology Clinic. We included patients with a diagnosis of AA who were 18 years old or younger at the initiation of tofacitinib therapy. Demographics, treatment response, and adverse events were collected from electronic medical records. Results Eleven patients (seven females, four males) with AA presented to the University of Colorado Hospital Dermatology Clinic who were between the ages of 8 and 18 years. Eight patients (72.7%) experienced hair regrowth with oral tofacitinib, while three patients (27.3%) experienced minimal to no hair regrowth. There were no serious adverse events recorded in the study population during the observed treatment period. Conclusions Oral tofacitinib was clinically effective in the majority our of patients and well tolerated.