Reversal of Alopecia Universalis by Tofacitinib: A Case Report

Letters15 November 2016Reversal of Alopecia Universalis by Tofacitinib: A Case ReportMorton Scheinberg, MD, PhD and Sineida Berbert Ferreira, MDMorton Scheinberg, MD, PhDFrom Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein and Hospital AACD, São Paulo, and Clinica Dermatosineida, Maringa, Parana, Brazil. and Sineida Berbert Ferreira, MDFrom Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein and Hospital AACD, São Paulo, and Clinica Dermatosineida, Maringa, Parana, Brazil.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L16-0125 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Background: Alopecia universalis involves complete hair loss in all parts of the body (1). It is considered to be an advanced form of alopecia areata, which involves hair loss on some parts of the body, often in sharply demarcated areas. The cause of alopecia universalis is uncertain, but many investigators believe it to be an autoimmune disease with the patient's immune system directed against the hair follicles. In support of this hypothesis, clinical and experimental studies have shown infiltration by T lymphocytes into the immunologically privileged zone around the hair follicle with changes in cytokine and chemokine profiles (2). No ...References1. Price VH. Treatment of hair loss. N Engl J Med. 1999;341:964-73. [PMID: 10498493] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Islam N, Leung PS, Huntley AC, Gershwin ME. The autoimmune basis of alopecia areata: a comprehensive review. Autoimmun Rev. 2015;14:81-9. [PMID: 25315746] doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2014.10.014 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Onuora S. Rheumatoid arthritis: can tofacitinib be used as first-line monotherapy for RA? Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2014;10:443. [PMID: 25003770] doi:10.1038/nrrheum.2014.108 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Craiglow BG, King BA. Killing two birds with one stone: oral tofacitinib reverses alopecia universalis in a patient with plaque psoriasis [Letter]. J Invest Dermatol. 2014;134:2988-90. [PMID: 24940651] doi:10.1038/jid.2014.260 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Dhayalan A, King BA. Tofacitinib citrate for the treatment of nail dystrophy associated with alopecia universalis. JAMA Dermatol. 2016;152:492-3. [PMID: 26630079] doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2015.3772 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein and Hospital AACD, São Paulo, and Clinica Dermatosineida, Maringa, Parana, Brazil.Disclosures: Authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L16-0125. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byA Literature Review of the Janus Kinase Inhibitors Used in the Treatment of Auto-Immune Dermatological ConditionsOff-label studies on tofacitinib in dermatology: a reviewGranzyme B Inhibition by Tofacitinib Blocks the Pathology Induced by CD8 T Cells in Cutaneous LeishmaniasisTopical tofacitinib in treatment of alopecia areataAn excellent response to tofacitinib in a Brazilian adolescent patient with alopecia areata: A case report and a review of the literatureScoping Review on the Use of Drugs Targeting JAK/STAT Pathway in Atopic Dermatitis, Vitiligo, and Alopecia AreataA randomized placebo-controlled single-center pilot study of the safety and efficacy of apremilast in subjects with moderate-to-severe alopecia areataJAK Inhibitors for Treatment of Alopecia AreataNovel therapies for alopecia areata: The era of rational drug developmentBrazilian Experience of the Treatment of Alopecia Universalis with the Novel Antirheumatic Therapy Tofacitinib: A Case SeriesJAK inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for immune and inflammatory diseasesRecovery of nail dystrophy potential new therapeutic indication of tofacitinib 15 November 2016Volume 165, Issue 10Page: 750-751KeywordsAutoimmune diseasesImmune systemInflammatory bowel diseaseKinase inhibitorsLymphocytesMethotrexatePsoriasisRheumatoid arthritisSerious adverse eventsSteroids ePublished: 15 November 2016 Issue Published: 15 November 2016 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2016 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...