Background: Treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) is often inadequate.
Objective: We sought to evaluate the efficacy of the oral Janus kinase inhibitor tofacitinib citrate in the treatment of moderate to severe AD.
Methods: Six consecutive patients with moderate to severe AD who had failed standard treatment were treated with tofacitinib citrate. Response to treatment was assessed using the Scoring of AD index.
Results: Decreased body surface area involvement of dermatitis and decreased erythema, edema/papulation, lichenification, and excoriation were observed in all patients. The Scoring of AD index decreased by 66.6% from 36.5 to 12.2 (P < .05) during 8 to 29 weeks of treatment. There were no adverse events.
Limitations: Small sample size, lack of placebo control group, and the possibility of bias are limitations.
Conclusion: The oral Janus kinase inhibitor tofacitinib citrate may be beneficial in the treatment of moderate to severe AD.
Keywords: Janus kinase inhibitor; atopic dermatitis; tofacitinib.
Published by Elsevier Inc.