Comparative Evaluation of Oral Baricitinib and Tofacitinib in Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Cohort Study Based on SALT Scores

This retrospective cohort study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of oral baricitinib and tofacitinib in treating alopecia areata (AA) in 65 patients. The study found that both JAK inhibitors significantly reduced the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) scores, indicating a decrease in disease severity. Tofacitinib showed a 38% excellent response rate, while baricitinib had a 46.1% excellent response rate. Although the overall effectiveness between the two drugs was comparable, longer exposure to tofacitinib correlated with greater improvement, unlike baricitinib, which achieved substantial responses over shorter periods. The study suggests that both treatments are effective, with tofacitinib potentially benefiting from longer treatment durations. Further prospective studies are recommended to explore the impact of treatment duration and other factors on outcomes.