A comparative randomised controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of topical tofacitinib versus topical clobetasol propionate in localised alopecia areata.

The study will be conducted amongst patients of localised alopecia areata attending Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology department, AIIMS Jodhpur. The study will be including patients who are clinically diagnosed with localised alopecia areata over scalp with SALT score S1(<25% hair loss) with age group >5 years, having stable disease without appearance of new patch or increase in size of existing patch in last 15 days and without evidence of spontaneous hair regrowth. Patients who are pregnant, lactating, who had received any topical in last 2 weeks or systemic corticosteroid, immunosuppressant or oral tofacitinib in past 4 weeks, Alopecia totalis, alopecia universalis, ophiasis, sisaipho and alopecia with sites other than scalp, history of HIV, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis, hepatic and renal impairment will be excluded from the study. The research question is whether topical tofacitinib is better than topical clobetasol propionate in patients of alopecia areata in terms of efficacy. The aim of the study is to compare the efficacy of topical tofacitinib versus topical clobetasol propionate in localised alopecia areata. The primary objective is to compare the efficacy of topical tofacitinib versus topical clobetasol propionate in localised alopecia areata in terms of Hair Regrowth Score (RGS). The secondary objective is to compare the no. of patients having >50% improvement in RGS, % reduction in area involved with alopecia areata in both groups, quality of life of patients using DLQI, to compare the side effects profile in both the groups and to assess relapse (if any) in both the groups. Patients will be given topical tofacitinib 2% ointment twice daily and topical clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment is given twice daily to patients with age group more than 12 years and in age group 6-12 years, clobetasol is given twice a day for 4 weeks then once a day for 4 weeks then on alternate days for 4 weeks and twice a week for 4 weeks. The total duration of treatment is 4 months. At every visit, expected outcome will be assessed by clinical picture, trichoscopy, RGS, SALT at baseline and every visit. The study duration will be approximately 18 months.