Real-World Efficacy and Safety of Oral Tofacitinib in Patients with Refractory Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Abstract Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) has a complex etiology that includes Th2 polarization, which is accompanied by the cytokines IL4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-31, as well as Th17 and Th22, and in chronic lesions, Th1 cells. Tofacitinib inhibits Th1-, Th2-, and Th17-associated cytokines by selectively blocking JAK1 and JAK3 receptors. We conducted a multicentric, retrospective chart analysis to study the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in patients with moderate to severe refractory AD. Materials and Methods: We included 16 adult patients (aged >18 years) with moderate to severe AD who had previously undergone systemic therapy with inadequate response. In the baseline, demographic data, previous treatment history, severity scores (eczema area and severity index EASI and SCORing Atopic Dermatitis SCORAD), and quality of life score (Dermatology Life Quality Index DLQI) were noted. Baseline blood investigations, including complete blood count, liver function test, renal function test, lipid profile, and interferon gamma release assay for tuberculosis, were done. Patients were followed up every month for 6 months that included documentation of severity scores, blood investigations, and DLQI. Any adverse events, if reported, were noted. Result: All 16 patients completed the 6-month trial. Our patients were previously treated with cyclosporine (n = 10), methotrexate (n = 3), or both (n = 3). The mean EASI scores improved from 23.38 ± 9.56 at baseline to 8.50 ± 7.57 at the end of 6 months. The mean SCORAD score improved from 41.25 ± 8.69 at baseline to 14.93 ± 7.82 at the end of 6 months. Quality of life also improved as the mean DLQI improved from 15.18 ± 2.73 at baseline to 5.31 ± 4.11 at the end of the study period. No severe adverse reactions were noted, but 3 patients experienced dyslipidemia and 2 patients had altered bleeding time. Conclusion: Tofacitinib is a safe and effective treatment option for recalcitrant moderate to severe adult AD.