Alopecia Areata and Ritlecitinib: Unraveling Response Trajectories

This study investigates the long-term response patterns to ritlecitinib, a JAK3/TEC family kinase inhibitor, in patients with alopecia areata (AA) over 24 months. It categorizes patients into six distinct responder groups and finds that 45.5% achieved a SALT score ≤ 20, with 46.0% attaining complete hair regrowth. Notably, 93.1% of responders maintained their response through 24 months, highlighting the durability of ritlecitinib's effects. The study reveals that female patients and those with shorter disease duration and lower baseline SALT scores are more likely to respond favorably. It suggests that initiating treatment before severe AA onset may yield better outcomes. The findings align with previous baricitinib research, emphasizing the need for sustained therapy and further trials to compare JAK inhibitors and explore combination therapies.