Progressive alopecia areata during TNF-α inhibition with intralesional corticosteroid failure and subsequent improvement following JAK1 inhibition.

OBJECTIVES

To report a case of AA developing during golimumab and leflunomide treatment for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, with subsequent improvement following initiation of selective Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) inhibition.

METHODS

A 55-year-old woman developed progressive, non-scarring alopecia while rheumatoid arthritis disease activity remained well controlled. Clinical and trichoscopic findings were consistent with AA, and laboratory investigations were unremarkable. The patient received serial intralesional triamcinolone at approximately 4-8 week intervals over a 14-month period, with progression in Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score from approximately 20 to 50. Alopecia developed and progressed despite ongoing TNF-α inhibitor therapy and serial intralesional corticosteroids. Upadacitinib was initiated for rheumatoid arthritis management and escalated from 15 mg to 30 mg.

RESULTS

Hair regrowth was observed within six weeks, with SALT improving to approximately 15 by three months.

CONCLUSIONS

Although spontaneous remission and delayed corticosteroid effects cannot be excluded, the timing and magnitude of improvement support a temporal association with JAK1 inhibition. This case highlights a pragmatic therapeutic consideration when alopecia arises during TNF-α inhibitor therapy.