Clinical Evidence for JAK Inhibition in Alopecia Areata: A Comprehensive Review

This review highlights the effectiveness of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in treating alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune condition causing hair loss. JAK inhibitors like baricitinib, ritlecitinib, and deuruxolitinib have shown significant hair regrowth by blocking cytokine signaling pathways. Clinical trials such as BRAVE-AA1/2 and ALLEGRO-2a/2b/3 reported substantial improvements, with baricitinib achieving SALT scores ≤20 in up to 40.9% of patients. Tofacitinib and ruxolitinib, used off-label, also demonstrated promising results. However, AA recurrence is common after stopping treatment. While JAK inhibitors are promising, they require ongoing research to optimize treatment and manage potential adverse events.