Objective: To evaluate and explore the efficacy, safety, and pharmacoeconomics of three common strategies for pediatric alopecia areata.
Methods: Chinese pediatric alopecia areata patients meeting the criteria were included and divided into three groups based on the received treatments. The efficacy, adverse events and pharmacoeconomics of these treatments were retrospectively analyzed.
Results: Twenty-four pediatric AA patients were recruited in this study. 100% (12/12) of patients from the traditional group achieved SALT100. In the tofacitinib group, 40.0% (2/5) of patients achieved SALT50. 20.0% (1/5) of patients achieved SALT75 and 40.0% (2/5) of patients achieved SALT100. In the MN group, 42.86% (3/7) of patients were non-responders. 14.28 (1/7) of patients achieved SALT75 and 42.86% (3/7) of patients achieved SALT100. The adverse effects (AEs) were mild in all three groups, and none of the patients discontinued the treatments due to the AEs. Comparing the other two groups, the MN treatment would be more time-intensive and more expensive.
Conclusion: For newly diagnosed or naive pediatric patients, the traditional treatment was the first-line approach. For long-duration, severe and refractory patients, tofacitinib and microneedling can be alternative options.
Keywords: pediatric, alopecia areata, tofacitinib, microneedling, efficacy