Excellent Repigmentation of Generalized Vitiligo with Oral Baricitinib Combined with NB-UVB Phototherapy

Abstract

Vitiligo is an acquired autoimmune skin disorder, clinically characterized by distinct white macules and patches resulting from progressive melanocyte destruction. JAK-STAT pathway plays an important role in the loss of epidermal melanocytes. Baricitinib can block the JAK-STAT pathway and the downstream chemokines as a new JAK1/2 inhibitor. In this report, we describe the successful treatment of 2 patients with oral baricitinib combined with NB-UVB phototherapy, which provides a good alternative and supplementary to treat refractory vitiligo.

Keywords:

• IFN-γ signaling pathway
• Janus kinase inhibitor
• baricitinib
• vitiligo

Abbreviations

JAK, Janus kinase inhibitors; STAT, signal transducer and activator of transcription; IFN-γ, Interferon-γ; NB-UVB, narrow-band ultraviolet B; TYK2, tyrosine kinase 2; CXCL, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand; RCTs, randomized control trials.

Consent Statement

Written informed consents were provided by both patients to have the case details and any accompanying images published. Institutional approval was not required to publish the case details.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Peking University People’s Hospital Research And Development Funds [RDX2020-09].