Janus kinase inhibitors for alopecia areata.

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors have ushered in a new era in alopecia areata (AA). Historically, moderate-to-severe AA was refractory to treatment. JAK inhibitors have changed that; now, treatment of moderate-to-severe AA is possible. Here, we briefly review the history of and rationale for JAK inhibitor treatment of AA, phase 3 clinical trial data, and considerations regarding differences among JAK inhibitors, safety, and patient selection.

Clinical Outcomes for Uptitration of Baricitinib Therapy in Patients With Severe Alopecia Areata: A Pooled Analysis of the BRAVE-AA1 and BRAVE-AA2 Trials.

Importance: Baricitinib is an oral selective Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor that has achieved clinically meaningful outcomes for scalp, eyebrow, and eyelash hair regrowth in patients with severe alopecia areata (AA) at week 36 of treatment. Treatment with baricitinib, 4 mg, has resulted in higher response rates than baricitinib, 2 mg, at weeks 36 and 52. Objective: To determine the efficacy of uptitration to baricitinib, 4 mg, for 24 weeks in patients who had previously not responded to baricitinib, 2 mg (Severity of Alopecia Tool [SALT] score of >20). Design, Setting, and Participants: BRAVE-AA1 and BRAVE-AA2 are multicenter, placebo-controlled, phase 3 randomized clinical trials that were initiated on September 24, 2018, and July 8, 2019, respectively, with follow-up to 200 weeks (data cutoffs of November 11, 2021, and November 5, 2021, respectively). This pooled analysis reports long-term extension data up to week 76. At baseline, 1200 adult patients with severe AA (SALT score ≥50) were randomly assigned in a 3:2:2 ratio to receive baricitinib, 4 mg; baricitinib, 2 mg; or placebo. Patients treated with baricitinib remained on the same treatment dose until week 52. Patients were considered nonresponders to baricitinib, 2 mg, if they had a SALT score greater than 20 after 52 weeks of therapy. Main Outcomes and Measures: The proportions of patients achieving a SALT score of 20 or lower and clinician-reported outcome for eyebrow hair loss and eyelash hair loss scores of 0 or 1 (full coverage or minimal gaps) with 2-point or higher improvements from baseline (among those with baseline scores ≥2 [significant gaps to no notable hair]) were analyzed through week 76. Results: At week 52, of the 340 patients (mean [SD] age, 38.4 [12.9] years; 212 [62.4%] female) treated with baricitinib, 2 mg, 212 (62.4%) had a SALT score higher than 20 and were uptitrated to baricitinib, 4 mg. Two-thirds of these patients (142 of 212 [67.0%]) had a baseline SALT score of 95 to 100, indicating very severe AA. At week 76, 55 of the 212 patients (25.9%) had achieved a SALT score of 20 or lower. During the same period, response rates for clinician-reported outcome scores of 0 or 1 increased from 19.3% (31 of 161 patients) to 37.9% (61 of 161 patients) for eyebrows and from 24.1% (33 of 137 patients) to 40.9% (56 of 137 patients) for eyelashes. Conclusions and Relevance: In this pooled analysis of the BRAVE-AA1 and BRAVE-AA2 trials, uptitration of baricitinib, 2 mg, to baricitinib, 4 mg, in those who did not respond to the 2-mg dose resulted in meaningful improvement of response rates over the subsequent 24 weeks for scalp, eyebrow, and eyelash hair loss. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT03570749 and NCT03899259.

The Genomic and Phenotypic Landscape of Ichthyosis: An Analysis of 1000 Kindreds.

IMPORTANCE: Ichthyoses are clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders characterized by scaly skin. Despite decades of investigation identifying pathogenic variants in more than 50 genes, clear genotype-phenotype associations have been difficult to establish. OBJECTIVE: To expand the genotypic and phenotypic spectra of ichthyosis and delineate genotype-phenotype associations. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study recruited an international group of individuals with ichthyosis and describes characteristic and distinguishing features of common genotypes, including genotype-phenotype associations, during a 10-year period from June 2011 to July 2021. Participants of all ages, races, and ethnicities were included and were enrolled worldwide from referral centers and patient advocacy groups. A questionnaire to assess clinical manifestations was completed by those with a genetic diagnosis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Genetic analysis of saliva or blood DNA, a phenotyping questionnaire, and standardized clinical photographs. Descriptive statistics, such as frequency counts, were used to describe the cases in the cohort. Fisher exact tests identified significant genotype-phenotype associations. RESULTS: Results were reported for 1000 unrelated individuals enrolled from around the world (mean [SD] age, 50.0 [34.0] years; 524 [52.4%] were female, 427 [42.7%] were male, and 49 [4.9%] were not classified); 75% were from the US, 12% from Latin America, 4% from Canada, 3% from Europe, 3% from Asia, 2% from Africa, 1% from the Middle East, and 1% from Australia and New Zealand. A total of 266 novel disease-associated variants in 32 genes were identified among 869 kindreds. Of these, 241 (91%) pathogenic variants were found through multiplex amplicon sequencing and 25 (9%) through exome sequencing. Among the 869 participants with a genetic diagnosis, 304 participants (35%) completed the phenotyping questionnaire. Analysis of clinical manifestations in these 304 individuals revealed that pruritus, hypohydrosis, skin pain, eye problems, skin odor, and skin infections were the most prevalent self-reported features. Genotype-phenotype association analysis revealed that the presence of a collodion membrane at birth (odds ratio [OR], 6.7; 95% CI, 3.0-16.7; P < .001), skin odor (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.1-6.8; P = .02), hearing problems (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.6-5.5; P < .001), eye problems (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.5-6.0; P < .001), and alopecia (OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 2.4-9.0; P < .001) were significantly associated with TGM1 variants compared with other ichthyosis genotypes studied. Skin pain (OR, 6.8; 95% CI, 1.6-61.2; P = .002), odor (OR, 5.7; 95% CI, 2.0-19.7; P < .001), and infections (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.4-7.7; P = .03) were significantly associated with KRT10 pathogenic variants compared with disease-associated variants in other genes that cause ichthyosis. Pathogenic variants were identified in 869 (86.9%) participants. Most of the remaining individuals had unique phenotypes, enabling further genetic discovery. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This cohort study expands the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of ichthyosis, establishing associations between clinical manifestations and genotypes. Collectively, the findings may help improve clinical assessment, assist with developing customized management plans, and improve clinical course prognostication.

Consensus recommendations for the use of retinoids in ichthyosis and other disorders of cornification in children and adolescents.

Topical and systemic retinoids have long been used in the treatment of ichthyoses and other disorders of cornification. Due to the need for long-term use of retinoids for these disorders, often beginning in childhood, numerous clinical concerns must be considered. Systemic retinoids have known side effects involving bone and eye. Additionally, potential psychiatric and cardiovascular effects need to be considered. Contraceptive concerns, as well as the additive cardiovascular and bone effects of systemic retinoid use with hormonal contraception must also be deliberated for patients of childbearing potential. The Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA) Use of Retinoids in Ichthyosis Work Group was formed to address these issues and to establish best practices regarding the use of retinoids in ichthyoses based on available evidence and expert opinion.

JAK Inhibitors for the Treatment of Pediatric Alopecia Areata.

Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune condition that disproportionately affects children and can significantly hinder quality of life. Few safe and effective therapies are available for the treatment of severely affected pediatric patients. JAK inhibitors have been recently established as an effective and well-tolerated therapy in adults, but there are limited data regarding the use of JAK inhibitors to treat alopecia areata in children. Here, we review the available literature regarding the use of JAK inhibitors in children in dermatology and across other medical disciplines.

Tofacitinib cream plus narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy for segmental vitiligo in a child.

Segmental vitiligo often presents in childhood and tends to be more recalcitrant to therapy than generalized vitiligo. Recently, Janus kinase inhibitors have emerged as a promising treatment option, with some reports suggesting that concomitant ultraviolet light exposure may enhance therapeutic response. Here, we present a child with segmental vitiligo who responded rapidly and completely to treatment with tofacitinib cream plus phototherapy.

Histopathologic findings characteristic of CARD14-associated papulosquamous eruption.

BACKGROUND: Pathogenic mutations in caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 14 (CARD14) lead to CARD14-associated papulosquamous eruption, which shares clinicopathologic findings with psoriasis and pityriasis rubra pilaris. We aimed to describe distinguishing histopathologic features of CARD14-associated papulosquamous eruption. METHODS: This retrospective study examined the histopathologic features of specimens from patients with confirmed CARD14-associated papulosquamous eruption and adult patients with plaque psoriasis and pityriasis rubra pilaris. RESULTS: Lesional skin biopsies from patients with CARD14-associated papulosquamous eruption consistently showed alternating checkerboard parakeratosis and orthokeratosis, acanthosis without acantholysis, and dilated vessels in the dermal papillae, with some cases also showing follicular plugging. CONCLUSION: CARD14-associated papulosquamous eruption has a range of findings, with a predominance of features typically associated with pityriasis rubra pilaris.

Review of genodermatoses with characteristic histopathology and potential diagnostic delay.

Advances in human genetics have enabled discovery of new genes for inherited skin diseases and cutaneous malformations as well as refined categorization of genodermatoses. Careful phenotyping has been central to genetic discoveries, and it provides critical clues for clinical diagnoses, particularly when the skin disorder is not congenital. This article will review several lesser-known genodermatoses that often present after infancy with recognizable histopathologic features.