piperidines and Scalp-Dermatoses

Topics: Administration, Oral; Aged; Female; Humans; Piperidines; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Pyrimidines; Pyrroles; Scalp Dermatoses; Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous; Treatment Outcome

Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is an inflammatory cicatricial alopecia for which many different therapies are attempted with varying success. The Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, tofacitinib, has been shown to be effective in treating the noncicatricial alopecia, alopecia areata. As in alopecia areata, upregulation of interferon and JAK signaling may play a role in LPP. We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 10 patients with recalcitrant LPP who were treated with oral tofacitinib. Patients received oral tofacitinib 5 mg twice or three times daily for 2-19 months as either monotherapy or adjunctive therapy to other ongoing treatments including intralesional triamcinolone, hydroxychloroquine, and tacrolimus ointment. Eight patients had clinical improvement in LPP with tofacitinib as either monotherapy (4/10) or adjunctive therapy (4/10). LPP Activity Index (LPPAI) before and after treatment was measured in seven patients and was significantly different (6.22 before treatment, 3.08 after treatment; p value = .0014). Reduction in LPPAI ranged from 30 to 94%. One patient complained of 10 pound (4.5 kg) weight gain after 12 months on tofacitinib. No other adverse effects were reported. Treatment with oral tofacitinib either as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy can lead to measurable improvement in recalcitrant LPP.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Alopecia; Dermatologic Agents; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Janus Kinase Inhibitors; Lichen Planus; Male; Middle Aged; Piperidines; Pyrimidines; Pyrroles; Remission Induction; Retrospective Studies; Scalp; Scalp Dermatoses; Skin; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Medications in dermatology are used in a variety of different methods and dosages and for numerous different diseases entities that are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA); however, there are medications that have only recently hit the market that require our attention, as they are either FDA approved for the intended dermatologic use or could be effective in treating conditions that previously have been poorly managed.

Topics: Aminolevulinic Acid; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Agents; Arthritis, Psoriatic; Azetidines; Biphenyl Compounds; Carcinoma, Basal Cell; Cosmetic Techniques; Deoxycholic Acid; Dermatologic Agents; Drug Approval; Facial Dermatoses; Humans; Keratosis, Actinic; Melanoma; Oncolytic Virotherapy; Piperidines; Psoriasis; Pyridines; Scalp Dermatoses; Skin Neoplasms; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration