Perceived Efficacy and Risks of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Pediatric and Young Adult Alopecia Areata: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Oral Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) are increasingly used for pediatric and young adult alopecia areata (AA), yet patient-reported satisfaction and perspectives on benefit-risk tradeoffs remain limited. Patients ≤ 25 years with physician-diagnosed AA receiving oral JAKi at a tertiary pediatric dermatology center were surveyed, assessing treatment satisfaction, perceived disease and hair loss severity, continuation decisions under explicit risk framings, and free-text experiences. Among 25 respondents, satisfaction was high, self-rated hair loss severity decreased from treatment initiation to survey completion, and most participants intended to continue therapy despite framing of potential risks such as growth impairments or serious adverse events. Qualitative responses emphasized hair regrowth, good tolerability, and improvements in quality of life and mental health, highlighting outcomes central to shared decision-making.

Abstract from PubMed