Lack of efficacy of apremilast in 9 patients with severe alopecia areata

To the Editor: Alopecia areata (AA) is a T-cell–mediated autoimmune disease of nonscarring hair loss. A mouse model of AA suggests that interleukin-15 and interferon (IFN)-γ are mediators of AA.1 This model has led to the successful use of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors for the treatment of AA, likely via inhibition of both interleukin-15 activation of T cells and subsequent IFN-γ feedback on the hair follicle.1,2 The phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, apremilast, suppresses IFN-γ production.3 We hypothesized that apremilast would be a targeted treatment for AA.

http://ift.tt/2wgvQBv