Treatment of primary cutaneous amyloidosis with tofacitinib: preliminary observations from a single-arm clinical

Pan Zou1, Yuxin Du2, Yuchun Cao3

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

Abstract

Insights

Oral tofacitinib effectively treats primary cutaneous amyloidosis (PCA), rapidly reducing itch and clearing lesions. This JAK inhibitor shows promise for PCA management, though larger trials are needed.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Pharmacology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Primary cutaneous amyloidosis (PCA) lacks established treatment guidelines.
  • Current therapies offer limited efficacy for PCA patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral tofacitinib in managing PCA.
  • To assess tofacitinib's impact on pruritus, quality of life, and lesion severity.

Main Methods:

  • A single-center, open-label study involving 20 PCA patients.
  • Patients received oral tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily for 10 weeks.
  • Outcomes measured included pruritus, DLQI, and lesion severity scores.

Main Results:

  • Significant reductions in pruritus (p < 0.001), DLQI (p < 0.001), and lesion severity (p < 0.001) were observed.
  • 55% of patients met the primary efficacy endpoint of ≥60% improvement in lesion severity.
  • Adverse events were mild, including transient enzyme elevations and a respiratory infection.

Conclusions:

  • Tofacitinib demonstrates rapid and sustained efficacy in PCA, significantly improving symptoms and appearance.
  • The drug exhibits a favorable safety profile in this patient cohort.
  • Further validation through phase III trials is recommended due to study limitations.

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