Treatment of moderate-to-severe alopecia areata in patients over the age of 65 years with baricitinib

• Published in: Clinical and experimental dermatology 2024-07, Vol.49 (8), p.875-878
• Main Authors: Tang, Gia Toan, Triwongwaranat, Daranporn, Sinclair, Rodney, Joseph, Shobha, Eisman, Samantha, Rathnayake, Deepani, Varathan, Vanathy, Trindade de Carvalho, Lara, Bhoyrul, Bevin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alopecia Areata - drug therapy; Azetidines - adverse effects; Azetidines - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Janus Kinase Inhibitors - adverse effects; Janus Kinase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Male; Purines - adverse effects; Purines - therapeutic use; Pyrazoles - adverse effects; Pyrazoles - therapeutic use; Retrospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Sulfonamides - adverse effects; Sulfonamides - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0307-6938; 1365-2230; 1365-2230
• DOI: 10.1093/ced/llae033

Baricitinib is a Janus kinase inhibitor that has been approved by the US Food and Drugs Administration for the treatment of severe alopecia areata (AA) in adults. However, the clinical trials that demonstrated the efficacy of baricitinib in the treatment of severe AA did not include men aged > 60 years or women aged > 70 years. We retrospectively assessed the efficacy and safety of baricitinib in 14 patients aged ≥ 65 years with moderate-to-severe AA. After a mean (SD) duration of 18.5 (11.9) months, a 72% reduction in mean Severity of Alopecia Tool score from baseline was observed. Partial or complete eyebrow and eyelash hair was observed in 57% and 43% of patients, respectively. The adverse effects of baricitinib were mild. No cases of venous thromboembolism, major adverse cardiovascular events or malignancy were reported.