Tofacitinib: The selected selective JAK inhibitor in paediatric dermatology

Abstract

Tofacitinib is a strong, selective JAK inhibitor that favorably inhibits JAK1 and JAK3 in addition to the inhibition of the phosphorylation of STAT5, STAT3 and STAT1. It is renowned and accepted for the therapeutic purposes of several conditions like psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. It is of great value for several dermatological related conditions of various age groups. Nonetheless, the use of tofacitinib for pediatric age group is still under research. A literature review was done which showed that tofacitinib orally can be a safe and effective alternative for several other dermatological conditions like refractory juvenile dermatomyositis, atopic dermatitis, alopecia Areata, and several types of psoriasis. Topically it is used for conditions like vitiligo vulgaris, alopecia Areata and halo naevus. The pros and cons must be weighed out prior to considering this drug. In this article, we have compiled a brief synopsis of the corroboration of utilizing tofacitinib (both topical and oral preparations) in paediatric age groups.