Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: According to a recent study, researchers have identified a promising therapy for the disease that regrowth of stimulated hair by 92 percent.

Alopecia areata is the second most common form of hair loss that occurs at any age and affects both men and women equally.

Currently, there is no treatment capable of completely restoring hair, CUMC investigators have shown that topical and oral drugs that inhibit the Janus kinase (JAK) family of enzymes, known as JAK inhibitors, could potentially fill the role of stimulating hair regrowth.

“Although our study was small, it provides crucial evidence that JAK inhibitors can constitute the first effective treatment for people with alopecia areata,” said Dr Julian Mackay-Wiggan.

“This is encouraging news for patients who are coping with the physical and emotional effects of this disfiguring autoimmune disease,” she said.

A medication used to treat bone marrow malignancies called ruxolitinib, which was the focus of the CUMC research, and a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis called tofacitinib that the Stanford and Yale study explored.

“These disorders are both characterized by dysregulated signaling pathways, similar to alopecia areata, which is dominated by the interferon signaling pathway. Even though the diseases were very different, this common feature gave us the initial idea to test JAK inhibitors in people with alopecia,” said Dr Raphael Clynes, associate professor of dermatology at CUMC.

In the follow-up period, one third of people who had responded to the treatment proceeded to experience significant hair loss, although not to the degree of before treatment.

The skin biopsies were performed before, during, and after treatment. In responders, the biopsies showed a reduction in levels of interferon signaling and cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which are indicators of inflammatory response. They had increased levels of hair keratins, which are proteins that indicate hair growth. These levels are similar to those seen in people without alopecia areata. People with alopecia areata who did not respond to treatment had lower levels of inflammatory signatures in biopsy results before treatment began, which may indicate that scientists could potentially distinguish between people who will and will not respond to treatment.

“We are very excited about the use of biomarkers to follow the response of patients to this treatment,” said Dr Angela M Christiano, the Richard and Mildred Rhodebeck, professor of dermatology, genetics and development at CUMC. “This will allow us to monitor improvements in their gene expression signatures even before hair growth appears”, Dr Angela M Christiano said.