JAK of All Trades: A Case Series of Oral Janus Kinase Inhibitors for Treatment of Lichen Planus
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Keywords
Lichen planus, JAK inhibitor, baracitinib, upadacitinib, abrocitinib, case report
Abstract
Lichen planus (LP) presents as pruritic, polygonal papules and plaques on skin or lacy-reticulated striae and papules on mucosal surfaces. Severity ranges from mild to severe, with recalcitrant cases being particularly difficult to treat with standard therapies. There is a need for more effective and targeted therapies to manage this often-chronic disease and improve quality of life. Prior translational studies of LP have proposed pathophysiology involving a predominantly interferon-mediated inflammatory response, and case reports successfully using Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor therapies provide early validation. This case series presents four patients treated with JAK inhibitors who noticed a significant improvement in their cutaneous and/or oral LP on therapy.
References
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