Low-Dose Baricitinib Plus Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B for the Treatment of Progressive Non-Segmental Vitiligo: A Prospective, Controlled, Open-Label Study

• Published in: Pigment cell and melanoma research 2024-10
• Main Authors: Hu, Zhonghui, Lu, Lu, Feng, Jindi, Song, Hongbin, Zhang, Shiyu, Yang, Lu, Liu, Yuehua, Wang, Tao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1755-1471; 1755-148X; 1755-148X
• DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13209

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disease, and current treatments for vitiligo have limited efficacy. Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors could offer new therapeutic options. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of baricitinib, an oral JAK1/2 inhibitor, combined with narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) in vitiligo treatment. This prospective, controlled, open-label study included adults with progressive non-segmental vitiligo (NSV). Patients were assigned to combination therapy with baricitinib 2 mg daily and NB-UVB three times a week or NB-UVB alone three times a week (control). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving 50% or greater improvement from baseline in the total Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (T-VASI50) at week 16. Of the 33 patients (mean age, 34.1 years; 27.3% women) who completed the study, 12 of 17 (70.6%) patients in the combination group and 2 of 16 (12.5%) in the control group had a T-VASI50 response at week 16 (relative risk [RR] = 5.6; 95% CI = 1.5-21.4; p = 0.001). Adverse events were minor, including erythema, mild blister after phototherapy and acne. Combination therapy with low-dose baricitinib and NB-UVB was effective and well tolerated in adults with progressive NSV.