A recent long-term study (Senna 2024) has revealed the sustained efficacy of baricitinib in treating alopecia areata. The study, involving 194 patients, demonstrated that close to 90% of participants maintained a Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score ≤20 from week 52 to week 104, indicating consistent and prolonged scalp hair regrowth.
Efficacy and Outcomes
The research highlighted that over 70% of patients achieved a SALT score ≤10, representing substantial scalp hair regrowth. Furthermore, clinician- and patient-reported outcome measurements for eyebrow and eyelash regrowth showed increased response rates between weeks 52 and 104, suggesting continued improvement in hair regrowth in these areas over time.
Safety Profile
The study also monitored the safety profile of baricitinib. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported in 76% of patients. The majority of these TEAEs were mild to moderate in severity. The most common TEAEs, occurring in ≥5% of patients, included COVID-19 infection, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache. Notably, there was one reported event of a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), with an incidence rate of less than 0.1%.
These findings suggest that baricitinib can provide a sustained therapeutic benefit for individuals with alopecia areata, with a manageable safety profile. The long-term data supports its use as a viable treatment option for this challenging condition.
