Oral JAK inhibitors for pediatric inflammatory skin disease

JAK inhibitors have emerged as a promising new therapy for inflammatory skin disease, including in pediatric populations. However, due to their boxed warnings and lack of long-term safety and efficacy data, their specific role in the treatment ladder for various conditions remains to be determined.

JAK inhibitors are currently approved for pediatric atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata with evidence of both efficacy and safety. They are currently being investigated for use in children with vitiligo, psoriasis, juvenile dermatomyositis, and hidradenitis suppurativa. So far, no significant safety concerns, especially regarding the FDA-mandated black box warnings, have been observed in pediatric patients being treated for inflammatory skin disease.

JAK inhibitors provide clinicians and patients with another tool to consider when faced with challenging inflammatory skin diseases. Place in therapy amid the current armamentarium of available treatments for select skin conditions is evolving, as efficacy and safety data accumulates in trials and clinicians develop more real-world experience. As of now, use of JAK inhibitors should be considered on a case-by-case basis after a comprehensive assessment of the benefits and potential risks.