Retrospective Analysis of Oral Tofacitinib Treatment for Alopecia Areata at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Saudi Arabia

January 2026 in “ Cureus ”

Faisal A Aleidi, Monirah O Almadhi, Ziyad H Altassan, Lama F Alotaibi, Lama B Almutairi, Mona Khalaf, Haneen M Almansour, Raghad R Alhowil, Ahmed Alotaibi, Sadeem A Alsultani, Raghad Fahad, Fay Thawab

tofacitinib alopecia areata lipid abnormalities

TLDR Oral tofacitinib effectively treats alopecia areata long-term with manageable side effects.

In a six-year study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia, oral tofacitinib was found to be effective for long-term treatment of alopecia areata (AA). Although patients frequently experienced lipid abnormalities, these adverse events were manageable with regular monitoring. The study supports the feasibility of using tofacitinib for long-term therapy in carefully selected patients with AA.

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Research cited in this study

17 / 17 results

research Janus Kinase Inhibitors for Alopecia Areata: A Review of Clinical Data

4 citations , May 2025 in “Frontiers in Immunology”

JAK inhibitors effectively and safely treat alopecia areata with few serious side effects.

research Switching JAK Inhibitors: Evaluating Baricitinib’s Effectiveness in Alopecia Areata After Tofacitinib Failure

2 citations , February 2025 in “Archives of Dermatological Research”

Baricitinib is a safe and effective alternative for alopecia areata patients who do not respond to tofacitinib.

research Systemic Tofacitinib in Alopecia Areata: A Single Center Retrospective Descriptive Cohort Study

1 citations , January 2024 in “Arab Board Medical Journal”

Tofacitinib effectively regrows hair in alopecia areata patients, especially in younger individuals, with manageable side effects.

research Tofacitinib Treatment in a Severe Pediatric Alopecia Areata: A Case Report and a Literature Review

January 2024 in “Skin Research and Technology”

Oral tofacitinib may be an effective future treatment for children with severe alopecia areata, but more research is needed.

Effectiveness and Predictive Factors of Response to Tofacitinib Therapy in 125 Patients with Alopecia Areata: A Single-Centre Real-World Retrospective Study

research Effectiveness and Predictive Factors of Response to Tofacitinib Therapy in 125 Patients with Alopecia Areata: A Single-Centre Real-World Retrospective Study

December 2023 in “Acta dermato-venereologica”

Tofacitinib is effective for treating alopecia areata, and starting treatment early may improve results.

research Drug Survival and Long-Term Outcome of Tofacitinib in Patients with Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Study

2 citations , November 2023 in “Acta dermato-venereologica”

Tofacitinib is effective and safe for treating alopecia areata with a good drug survival rate.

research Hair Loss Profiles and Ritlecitinib Efficacy in Patients with Alopecia Areata: Post Hoc Analysis of the Allegro Phase 2b/3 Study

September 2023 in “Dermatology and therapy”

Ritlecitinib effectively improves hair growth in alopecia areata patients, regardless of hair loss pattern.

research Diagnosis And Management Of Alopecia Areata: A Saudi Expert Consensus Statement (2023)

August 2023 in “Dermatology and Therapy”

Experts recommend personalized treatment plans for best outcomes in managing Alopecia Areata.

research A retrospective study of oral tofacitinib therapy for alopecia areata

2 citations , January 2023 in “Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia”

$Real-World Experience and Long-Term Evaluation of Tofacitinib in Refractory Alopecia Areata: A Prospective, Open-Label, Single-Center Study in Asian Arab Population$

research Real-World Experience and Long-Term Evaluation of Tofacitinib in Refractory Alopecia Areata: A Prospective, Open-Label, Single-Center Study in Asian Arab Population

2 citations , September 2022 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

Tofacitinib is a promising treatment for severe alopecia areata, with many patients experiencing complete or partial hair regrowth.

research Treatment with Tofacitinib in Adolescents with Alopecia Areata

2 citations , June 2019 in “Boletín médico del Hospital Infantil de México”

Tofacitinib treatment is used for teenagers with alopecia areata.

research JAK Inhibitors for Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

130 citations , February 2019 in “JEADV. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology/Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

JAK inhibitors are effective for treating alopecia areata, with most patients seeing hair growth after treatment.

research Tofacitinib Therapy for Children with Severe Alopecia Areata

39 citations , January 2019 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Tofacitinib may help treat severe childhood alopecia areata, but risks require careful consideration.

research Tofacitinib for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata in Preadolescent Children

40 citations , September 2018 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Tofacitinib helped some young children with severe hair loss grow their hair back without bad side effects.

An Open-Label Pilot Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Tofacitinib in Moderate to Severe Patch-Type Alopecia Areata, Totalis, and Universalis

research An Open-Label Pilot Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Tofacitinib in Moderate to Severe Patch-Type Alopecia Areata, Totalis, and Universalis

130 citations , February 2018 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Tofacitinib may help treat severe hair loss, but more research is needed.

research Treatment of Alopecia Areata With Tofacitinib

78 citations , March 2017 in “JAMA Dermatology”

Tofacitinib helped regrow hair in people with severe alopecia, but side effects occurred and benefits stopped after treatment ended.

research Safety and Efficacy of the JAK Inhibitor Tofacitinib Citrate in Patients with Alopecia Areata

222 citations , September 2016 in “JCI insight”

Tofacitinib is safe and effective for severe alopecia areata, but hair loss may return 2 months after stopping treatment.

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Compressed part of research of theory of androgenic/anabolitic balance. AGA h-responders analytic. Theory of physio-metabolitic method of anti AGA treatment

community Compressed part of research of theory of androgenic/anabolitic balance. AGA h-responders analytic. Theory of physio-metabolitic method of anti AGA treatment

in Research 865 upvotes 1 year ago

The treatment for androgenetic alopecia involves using finasteride and minoxidil with intense exercise and cold exposure to boost metabolism and reduce androgenic effects, potentially leading to hair regrowth. This approach may activate biological pathways for improved hair and overall health.

community Female, 27 years old, shedding/ balding despite being on what is considered to be a effective treatment plan for AGA. Considering Dut (oral) . Please help.

in Finasteride/Dutasteride 27 upvotes 1 year ago

A 27-year-old woman with androgenic alopecia is losing hair despite using oral minoxidil and spironolactone, and is considering dutasteride. She is exploring causes like stress and medication side effects, planning tests, and considering treatment changes.

community 22F. Should I even bother getting a biopsy? Is there any point?

6 upvotes 9 years ago

A woman who has been experiencing hair loss for several years, and her question of whether there is any benefit to getting a biopsy to check if it's AGA or diffuse alopecia areata when no cure or very effective treatment exists. Treatments such as spironolactone and Minoxidil/finasteride/RU58841 have previously been discussed.

community IGE Hair Loss and Miniaturization

in Chat 3 upvotes 11 months ago

A 23-year-old male is experiencing diffuse hair loss and miniaturization, possibly due to high IGE levels after using tofacitinib. He seeks advice and has not yet consulted a dermatologist.

community What else is good. Besides the big 3.

in Chat 35 upvotes 1 year ago

Key treatments for hair preservation include minoxidil, finasteride/dutasteride, and microneedling, with additional options like specific shampoos, oils, biotin, zinc, tretinoin, clascoterone, and low-level laser therapy. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, reducing stress, and addressing nutrient deficiencies can also support hair health.

community The shedding caused by Minoxidil is one of the worst things. 2 months apart each picture

in Progress Pictures 290 upvotes 1 year ago

The conversation discusses the severe shedding caused by Minoxidil, with users sharing their experiences and outcomes. Some report eventual regrowth, while others see no improvement or worsening hair loss.

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research Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Janus Kinase Inhibitors Used in Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

10 citations , January 2023 in “Acta dermato-venereologica”

Baricitinib and deuruxolitinib are effective for treating alopecia areata, but their efficacy depends on the dose.

research Treatments for Moderate-to-Severe Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Narrative Review

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Some treatments for severe hair loss work but often have side effects, with baricitinib showing the most promise.

research Remarkable Improvement of Nail Changes in Alopecia Areata Universalis with 10 Months of Treatment with Tofacitinib: A Case Report

26 citations , October 2016 in “Case Reports in Dermatology”

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research Scoping Review on the Use of Drugs Targeting JAK/STAT Pathway in Atopic Dermatitis, Vitiligo, and Alopecia Areata

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Drugs targeting the JAK/STAT pathway can improve atopic dermatitis but vary in effectiveness for vitiligo and alopecia areata, with generally mild safety concerns.