Significant improvement of vitiligo with oral tofacitinib treatment

Efficacy and Safety of JAK Inhibitors in the Management of Vitiligo: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Vitiligo, a chronic skin disease affecting 1-2% of the global population, is associated with significant impairment in quality of life. Current pharmacological treatment options have limited efficacy and considerable side effects. Recent studies have shown promising results when using Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis). Despite these favourable findings, there remains a critical need for comprehensive data on the efficacy and safety of JAKi in the treatment of vitiligo.

METHODS

Three databases were searched for studies on patients with vitiligo treated with oral or topical JAKi, with or without conventional therapy. Placebo or vehicle cream were comparators in randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Outcomes included a 75% improvement in Facial-Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (F-VASI), mean Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) improvement, repigmentation percentage and adverse events. We performed three analyses: one using RCT data, one from case reports and a novel cohort of JAKi-treated patients from case reports. The protocol is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023445503).

RESULTS

Among the 35 articles identified, 19 were included in the statistical analyses. A meta-analysis of three randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on topical Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) suggested that patients treated with JAKi were more likely to achieve Facial Vitiligo Area Scoring Index 75 (F-VASI75) than those using vehicle cream (risk ratio (RR) 3.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98-12.22), with no significant difference in adverse events between groups (RR 1.27; 95% CI 0.88-1.82). A meta-analysis of four single-arm trials showed a 43.8% mean Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) improvement (95% CI 0.71-0.93). A cohort (n = 28) from case reports and series revealed significant repigmentation increases of 48.7% and 63.7% (p = 0.0018; p < 0.001) in patients treated with JAKi alone or with narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB). However, data were insufficient to determine if combination treatments were superior to JAKi alone.

CONCLUSION

Our systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of JAKi for vitiligo using data from RCTs, single-arm trials and case reports. While topical ruxolitinib showed promising but non-significant results in RCTs, single-arm trials and case studies highlighted significant repigmentation, particularly with oral JAKis combined with other therapies. Oral JAKis showed effectiveness but require caution due to potential adverse effects such as immune suppression and cardiovascular risks. Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge that a considerable proportion of patients do not respond to these therapies. Additional RCTs are needed to address long-term safety, optimise application strategies and establish standardised endpoints for combination therapies.

A retrospective analysis of the efficacy and safety of oral tofacitinib in active vitiligo treatment

Oral Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors represent a significant advancement in the treatment of vitiligo; however, large-scale clinical data on their optimal treatment duration and efficacy remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the oral JAK inhibitor tofacitinib in patients with active vitiligo over a 3-month period. A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients diagnosed with active vitiligo between June 2023 and January 2024 who received oral tofacitinib for at least 3 months. Data were extracted from patient records. Vitiligo activity was assessed based on the Vitiligo Disease Activity (VIDA) score in combination with specific clinical manifestations, while treatment efficacy was evaluated based on the Vitiligo Area Severity Index (VASI). Safety data were reviewed retrospectively throughout the treatment period. A total of 137 patients were included in the study. The VIDA score improved from 2.75 ± 1.15 at baseline to 1.63 ± 0.66 at treatment discontinuation, with 59.1% (81/137) of patients achieving disease stabilization. The baseline VASI score was 3.79 (1.54-4.0), which decreased to 2.68 (1.0-2.92), reflecting an overall 29.3% improvement. After 3 months of treatment, 98 patients continued to take tofacitinib. Patients who received treatment for 6-9 months demonstrated significantly greater repigmentation (42.27% improvement) compared to those treated for less than 6 months (P < 0.05). No significant differences in efficacy were observed between non-segmental and segmental vitiligo. Mild adverse reactions were reported in 13.8% of patients, primarily including gastrointestinal discomfort, acne, elevated liver enzymes, and palpitations, with no severe adverse events recorded. In conclusion, oral tofacitinib administered for 3 months effectively stabilized vitiligo progression, while treatment extending to 6-9 months results in greater repigmentation and maintained a favorable safety profile. Further long-term controlled studies are warranted to validate these findings and optimize treatment strategies. Trial registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn . identifier: ChiCTR2400092326.

Janus kinase inhibitors and the changing landscape of vitiligo management: a scoping review

Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition caused by an autoimmune response that results in the progressive loss of melanocytes and recent studies have suggested that Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) are emerging as a promising new treatment modality. Therefore, to assess and understand the extent of knowledge in the emerging field of JAKi use in vitiligo, a scoping review of the literature was undertaken. The reviewed articles explored a wide variety of JAKi administered either orally or topically for vitiligo. There were no injectable JAKi studied. Tofacitinib was the most commonly studied oral JAKi in 16 of the 35 studies selected for review, followed by baricitinib (n = 3), and one study each with ritlecitinib, ruxolitinib, and upadacitinib. Ruxolitinib (n = 6) and tofacitinib (n = 6) were the most often studied topical JAKi, followed by delgocitinib (n = 1). Potential benefits may vary between JAKi based on their receptor selectivity profile and coexistent autoimmune diseases. A topical JAKi would be advantageous in limited body area involvement and in adolescents. Concurrent use of JAKi with phototherapy or sun exposure appears beneficial. Most studies permitted the use of other topical agents. Acne-related events, though frequent yet mild, were reported with both oral and topical JAKi. Nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infections, and headaches were the most common adverse effects seen in the larger trials with JAKi. No serious or clinically meaningful hematology or thromboembolic events were detected. Treatment of vitiligo with oral or topical JAKi seems to be promising and the growing evidence shows a favorable risk-benefit profile.

Tofacitinib for the treatment of severe rare skin diseases: a narrative review

PURPOSE

Autoimmune bullous diseases, connective tissue diseases, and vasculitis represent a group of severe rare skin diseases. While glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents serve as standard treatments for these diseases, their efficacy is limited due to adverse side effects, indicating the need for alternative approaches. Biologics have been used in the management of some rare skin diseases. However, the use of biologics is associated with concerns, such as infection risk and high costs, prompting the quest for efficacious and cost-effective alternatives. This study discusses the safety issues associated with tofacitinib and its potential in treating rare skin diseases.

METHODS

This narrative review focuses on the pharmacodynamic properties of tofacitinib and its impact on the JAK/STAT pathway. In addition, we present a comprehensive discussion of the effects and mechanism of action of tofacitinib for each severe rare skin disease.

RESULTS

This role of tofacitinib in treating severe rare skin diseases has been discussed, shedding light on its promising prospects as a treatment modality. Few reports of serious adverse events are available in patients treated with tofacitinib.

CONCLUSION

We explored the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety considerations of tofacitinib and found that it can be used as a treatment option for rare skin diseases. However, multicenter clinical studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of JAK inhibitors.

Melanocyte-keratinocyte cross-talk in vitiligo

Vitiligo is a common acquired pigmentary disorder that presents as progressive loss of melanocytes from the skin. Epidermal melanocytes and keratinocytes are in close proximity to each other, forming a functional and structural unit where keratinocytes play a pivotal role in supporting melanocyte homeostasis and melanogenesis. This intimate relationship suggests that keratinocytes might contribute to ongoing melanocyte loss and subsequent depigmentation. In fact, keratinocyte dysfunction is a documented phenomenon in vitiligo. Keratinocyte apoptosis can deprive melanocytes from growth factors including stem cell factor (SCF) and other melanogenic stimulating factors which are essential for melanocyte function. Additionally, keratinocytes control the mobility/stability phases of melanocytes via matrix metalloproteinases and basement membrane remodeling. Hence keratinocyte dysfunction may be implicated in detachment of melanocytes from the basement membrane and subsequent loss from the epidermis, also potentially interfering with repigmentation in patients with stable disease. Furthermore, keratinocytes contribute to the autoimmune insult in vitiligo. Keratinocytes express MHC II in perilesional skin and may present melanosomal antigens in the context of MHC class II after the pigmented organelles have been transferred from melanocytes. Moreover, keratinocytes secrete cytokines and chemokines including CXCL-9, CXCL-10, and IL-15 that amplify the inflammatory circuit within vitiligo skin and recruit melanocyte-specific, skin-resident memory T cells. In summary, keratinocytes can influence vitiligo development by a combination of failing to produce survival factors, limiting melanocyte adhesion in lesional skin, presenting melanocyte antigens and enhancing the recruitment of pathogenic T cells.