[Granulomatous rosacea-like dermatitis under therapy with tofacitinib]

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
• Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, like tofacitinib, are used to treat UC.
• Cutaneous side effects are known adverse events associated with JAK inhibitors.

Observation:

• A 32-year-old female UC patient developed severe papulopustular dermatitis during tofacitinib therapy.
• The skin condition was unresponsive to topical treatments, oral corticosteroids, and doxycycline.
• Discontinuation of tofacitinib was necessary due to the severity of the dermatitis.

Findings:

• The patient presented with sterile papulopustular dermatitis, a rare side effect of JAK inhibitors.
• This specific type of dermatitis is infrequently reported in the context of tofacitinib treatment.
• The case highlights a less common but significant cutaneous adverse event associated with JAK inhibitors.

Implications:

• Clinicians should be aware of the potential for rare sterile papulopustular dermatitis in patients on JAK inhibitors.
• Early recognition and management of such dermatological adverse events are crucial.
• This case contributes to the understanding of the diverse cutaneous side effect profile of JAK inhibitors in UC patients.