Brazilian Experience of the Treatment of Alopecia Universalis with the Novel Antirheumatic Therapy Tofacitinib: A Case Series

Abstract

Introduction: Alopecia universalis is an autoimmune disorder for which there is no known effective therapy. Tofacitinib—a novel antirheumatic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis—has been shown in some reports to induce sustained hair growth in patients with alopecia universalis. Case Series: Here, we review the experiences of four different rheumatologists across the country regarding four Brazilian patients with alopecia universalis who were treated with tofacitinib. Two of these four patients had idiopathic alopecia and the other two had rheumatoid arthritis; in each case, the alopecia universalis was apparently induced by etanercept. Conclusion: Tofacitinib should be considered for the treatment of severe alopecia areata, but the optimal dose and duration of therapy should be defined in randomized controlled trials.