Jingyao Liang,1,2,* Wei Li,1,2,* Wenyan Liu,1,2 Yihui Yu,1,2 Hui Ye,1,2 Xibao Zhang1,2 

1Institute of Dermatology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510095, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Dermatology, Guangzhou Dermatology Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510095, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Xibao Zhang, Department of Dermatology, Guangzhou Dermatology Hospital, 56 Hengfu Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510095, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8620-83593476, Email gzpfbfzs@163.com

Abstract: Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a debilitating chronic neuroimmunologic skin condition due to the intense pruritus and difficult to treat. The pruritogenic cytokines, particularly IL-4, IL-13, IL-22, IL-31, and oncostatin M (OSM), play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of PN, potentially involving the JAK1-STAT pathway. An oral JAK1 inhibitor, abrocitinib, is presently undergoing Phase 2 trials for the treatment of PN. We evaluated the efficacy of abrocitinib at a daily dosage of 100 mg in treating two patients with PN affecting both lower limbs: a 50-year-old male with a 16-year disease history and a 38-year-old female with over three years of disease history, both of whom had failed to respond to multiple conventional treatments. Both patients responded rapidly after one week of treatment and exhibited a marked improvement. Following eight weeks of therapy, near-complete resolution of both pruritus and lesions was achieved, and no adverse effects were reported. Additionally, there were no reported side effects during the initial four months of continued treatment. Abrocitinib is an effective targeted therapy for PN, offering a promising new option for refractory patients.

Keywords: prurigo nodularis, abrocitinib, pruritus