International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research  |  e-ISSN: 2582-8940  |  Double-Blind Peer Review  |  Open Access  |  CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Current Issues
     2026:7/4

International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research

e-ISSN: 2582-8940 | Open Access

Efficacy and Safety of Oral Tofacitinib in Lichen Planus and Its Variants: A Prospective Interventional Study from a Tertiary Care Centre in Western Uttar Pradesh

Dr. Disha Widhwani, Dr. Deepti Saxena, Dr. Sundiep Kashyap, Dr. Jaishree Noor, Dr. Kainam

Junior Resident (3rd Year), Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprology, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, India; Professor & Head, Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprology, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, India; Professor, Department of Skin & VD, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Article Information

Volume / Issue7 / 2 (April-June 2026)
Pages269-273
AccessOpen Access

Publication Timeline

  • Received11 April 2026
  • Accepted10 May 2026
  • Published

Full Text (PDF)

Open Access - Free to Download

Download Full Article (PDF) JATS XML

Abstract

Background: Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic, T-cell-mediated inflammatory dermatosis in which the Janus kinase–signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK–STAT) pathway is increasingly implicated. Conventional therapies frequently yield incomplete or non-durable responses, creating a need for targeted options in progressive and refractory disease.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral tofacitinib in patients with LP and its clinical variants.
Methods: A prospective interventional study enrolled 50 patients (aged 18–60 years) with clinically or histopathologically confirmed LP. Patients received oral tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, escalated to 5 mg thrice daily for inadequate response, and were followed at 15-day intervals. Outcomes were assessed using the Physician Global Assessment (PGA), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pruritus, standardized photographic grading, and serial laboratory monitoring.
Results: Complete cutaneous response rose from 40% at 8 weeks to 72% at 18 weeks. Mean PGA fell from 3.5 to 0.8 and mean VAS from 7.6 to 1.2 (both p < 0.001). Classical and hypertrophic variants showed the highest excellent-response rates; the variant–response association was significant (p < 0.05). No serious adverse events occurred; a statistically significant but clinically manageable rise in total cholesterol was the only significant laboratory change (p = 0.01).
Conclusion: Oral tofacitinib was an effective and well-tolerated treatment for LP and its variants, supporting JAK–STAT inhibition as a rational therapeutic strategy in progressive or treatment-resistant disease.
 

Keywords

Lichen planusTofacitinibJAK inhibitorsPruritusLichen planopilarisTreatment outcome

References

  1. Boch K, Langan EA, Kridin K, Zillikens D, Ludwig RJ, Bieber K. Lichen planus. Front Med. 2021;8:737813. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  2. Solimani F, Forchhammer S, Schloegl A, Ghoreschi K, Meier K. Lichen planus – a clinical guide. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2021;19(6):864-82. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  3. Vičić M, Hlača N, Kaštelan M, Brajac I, Sotošek V, Prpić Massari L. Comprehensive insight into lichen planus immunopathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(3):3038. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  4. Husein-ElAhmed H, Gieler U, Steinhoff M. Lichen planus: a comprehensive evidence-based analysis of medical treatment. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019;33(10):1847-62. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  5. Damsky W, King BA. JAK inhibitors in dermatology: the promise of a new drug class. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017;76(4):736-44. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  6. Solimani F, Meier K, Ghoreschi K. Emerging topical and systemic JAK inhibitors in dermatology. Front Immunol. 2019;10:2847. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  7. Samuel C, Cornman H, Kambala A, Kwatra SG. A review on the safety of using JAK inhibitors in dermatology: clinical and laboratory monitoring. Dermatol Ther. 2023;13(3):729-49. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  8. Muddebihal A, Khurana A, Sardana K. JAK inhibitors in dermatology: the road travelled and path ahead, a International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research www.allmedicaljournal.com narrative review. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2023;16(4):279-95. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  9. Motamed-Sanaye A, Khazaee YF, Shokrgozar M, Alishahi M, Ahramiyanpour N, Amani M. JAK inhibitors in lichen planus: a review of pathogenesis and treatments. J Dermatolog Treat. 2022;33(8):3098-103. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  10. Abduelmula A, Bagit A, Mufti A, Yeung KC, Yeung J. The use of Janus kinase inhibitors for lichen planus: an evidence-based review. J Cutan Med Surg. 2023;27(3):271-6. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  11. Damsky W, Wang A, Olamiju B, Peterson D, Galan A, King B. Treatment of severe lichen planus with the JAK inhibitor tofacitinib. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2020;145(6):1708-10.e2. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  12. Yang CC, Khanna T, Sallee B, Christiano AM, Bordone LA. Tofacitinib for the treatment of lichen planopilaris: a case series. Dermatol Ther. 2018;31(6):e12656. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  13. Plante J, Eason C, Snyder A, Elston D. Tofacitinib in the treatment of lichen planopilaris: a retrospective review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;83(5):1487-9. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  14. Seiringer P, Lauffer F, Pilz AC, Boehmer D, Biedermann T, Eyerich K. Tofacitinib in hypertrophic lichen planus. Acta Derm Venereol. 2020;100(14):adv00220. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  15. Youssef S, Bordone LA. Oral tofacitinib effectively treating eruptive and hypertrophic cutaneous lichen planus. JAAD Case Rep. 2023;37:16-20. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  16. Iorizzo M, Haneke E. Tofacitinib as treatment for nail lichen planus associated with alopecia universalis. JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(3):352-3. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  17. Gowda S, Thakur V, Behera B, Garg S, Sahu D, Sethy M, et al. The efficacy and safety of oral tofacitinib in oral erosive lichen planus: a case series. Int J Dermatol. 2024;63(11):1561-3. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  18. Goodarzi M, Dadkhahfar S, Yahyaei F, Razzaghi Z, Moravvej H. Efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in lichen planopilaris: a retrospective series of 74 patients. Arch Iran Med. 2025;28(1):24-8. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  19. Sharath S, Sardana K, Khurana A, Yadav A, Singh A. Therapy-resistant hypertrophic lichen planus and its response to oral tofacitinib with a priori tissue cytokine expression: a real-world hospital-based study. Arch Dermatol Res. 2025;317(1):590. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  20. Mahmoudi H, Daneshpajooh M, Dadkhahfar S, Robati R, Tehranchinia Z, Farokh P, et al. Efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in the treatment of adults with lichen planopilaris: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Int Immunopharmacol. 2025;162:115129. [Google Scholar][Crossref]

How to Cite

Widhwani, D., Saxena, D., Kashyap, S., Noor, J., & Kainam (2026). Efficacy and Safety of Oral Tofacitinib in Lichen Planus and Its Variants: A Prospective Interventional Study from a Tertiary Care Centre in Western Uttar Pradesh. International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research, 7(2), 269-273. https://doi.org/10.54660/IJMBHR.2026.7.2.269-273

Widhwani, Disha, et al. "Efficacy and Safety of Oral Tofacitinib in Lichen Planus and Its Variants: A Prospective Interventional Study from a Tertiary Care Centre in Western Uttar Pradesh." International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research, vol. 7, no. 2, 2026, pp. 269-273. https://doi.org/10.54660/IJMBHR.2026.7.2.269-273.

Widhwani, D., Saxena, D., Kashyap, S., Noor, J. and Kainam (2026) 'Efficacy and Safety of Oral Tofacitinib in Lichen Planus and Its Variants: A Prospective Interventional Study from a Tertiary Care Centre in Western Uttar Pradesh', International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research, 7(2), pp. 269-273. doi: 10.54660/IJMBHR.2026.7.2.269-273.

Widhwani D, Saxena D, Kashyap S, Noor J, Kainam. Efficacy and Safety of Oral Tofacitinib in Lichen Planus and Its Variants: A Prospective Interventional Study from a Tertiary Care Centre in Western Uttar Pradesh. International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research. 2026;7(2):269-273. doi:10.54660/IJMBHR.2026.7.2.269-273

Similar Articles

Share

Find this Article on

Google Scholar Semantic Scholar OpenAlex Scilit Crossref ResearchGate BASE

A newly published article may take a few days to appear on these services.