Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease, the prevalence of which has increased in the last decade. It affects all age groups, with adult involvement being a major focus of interest in recent years. The unmet needs of the disease, such as pruritus, sleep quality impairment and eczematous skin lesions, have undergone a therapeutic revolution following the commercialization of drugs such as JAK inhibitors. Upadacitinib, a selective JAK1 inhibitor, has been positioned by both clinical trial results and those observed in clinical practice as the fastest and most effective drug in reducing both pruritus and Eczema Area and Severity Index and validated Investigator Global Assessment. Although the safety profile may be initially alarming, it is advisable to update the actual data in this regard for proper management. New perspectives for upadacitinib in nonatopic comorbidities such as psoriasis and alopecia areata are beginning to be described, and interest in learning more about its peculiarities is growing.
Keywords: JAK inhibitors; alopecia areata; atopic dermatitis; clinical trials; efficacy; psoriasis; real-world evidence; safety; treatment; upadacitinib.
Atopic dermatitis is the most common inflammatory skin disease. The inflammation happens when the body's defense system attacks the body's tissue. People with atopic dermatitis often have itching and red and scaly parts of the skin. The inflammation tends to be long-lasting and comes back repeatedly. The main goal of treatment is controlling the inflammation, which occurs because of a certain group of proteins called cytokines. Receptors called JAKs are involved in the inflammation that happens through cytokines, so they play an important role in this disease. A medicine called upadacitinib has been approved for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. In this article, you will find the most relevant published information on upadacitinib, including how effective and safe the medicine is based on both clinical studies and real-life cases.