Kimura disease responded well to tofacitinib in three cases.

AIM: Kimura disease (KD) is a rare inflammatory disorder with an unclear etiology. Although multiple treatment options are available, managing KD remains challenging due to variable treatment effectiveness, high recurrence rates, and potential adverse effects. Thus, there is an urgent need for novel, effective, and well-tolerated therapeutic strategies for KD patients.

METHODS

Here we report three KD cases treated with tofacitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, at a dosage of 5 mg twice daily.

RESULTS

Significant softening and reduction in lesion size were observed in all three patients within 2 months, with complete lesion resolution after 6-20 months of treatment. The therapy was well-tolerated, and no relapses occurred during 5-9 months of follow-up after discontinuing tofacitinib.

CONCLUSIONS

Our report provides valuable clinical evidence that tofacitinib is a promising novel therapeutic option for KD, demonstrating its safety and durable efficacy.