The Use of JAK Inhibitors in AD Affecting Difficult-to-Treat Areas: Lessons from Real-Life
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results
3.1. Abrocitinib
3.2. Baricitinib
3.3. Upadacitinib
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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| Ref | Study (First Author, Year) | Drug | Design | Population | Difficult Area(s) | Regional Assessment | Key Regional Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABROCITINIB | |||||||
| [16] | Kamphuis et al., 2024 (BioDay Registry) | Abrocitinib | Registry | 103 AD | Hands | HECSI | Progressive HECSI reduction to W28; high response rates |
| [17] | Gargiulo et al., 2024 (il-AD Study) | Abrocitinib | Multicenter cohort | 85 AD | Face/neck, hands, genital | Regional EASI | 77.7% EASI-75 at W16; deep responses observed |
| [18] | Olydam et al., 2023 | Abrocitinib | Prospective real-world cohort | 41 AD (73.2% prior targeted failure) | Regionally predominant AD | EASI, IGA, NRS-pruritus | Median EASI 14.3 → 4.0 at 28W(p < 0.0001); EASI-50/75/90 41.5/31.7/29.6%; NRS 7.0 → 3.0; 41.5% discontinuation |
| [19] | Li et al., 2024 | Abrocitinib | Prospective | 12 CHE (3 atopic subtype) | Hands | HECSI | HECSI-90 in 100% at W16; marked pruritus reduction |
| [20] | Napolitano et al., 2025 | Abrocitinib | Multicenter retrospective | 12 AD difficult-to-treat areas | HN 75%, hands 75%, genital 58%; >2 areas 67% | Regional EASI; site persistence | Genital 58.3% → 8.3%; HN 75% → 8.3%; hands 75% → 25% at W16 |
| [21] | Santosa et al., 2023 | Abrocitinib | Case reports (n = 2) | 2 AD | Dupilumab-associated HND | Clinical | Rapid craniofacial clearance within W4 |
| BARICITINIB | |||||||
| [22] | Boesjes et al., 2022 (Dutch BioDay) | Baricitinib | Registry | 51 AD (74.5% prior dupilumab) | Severe treatment-experienced AD | EASI, NRS-pruritus | EASI 18.3 → 11.1 at W16; 29.4% EASI ≤ 7; 43.2% discontinuation |
| [23] | Carrascosa et al., 2024 (BREEZE-AD7) | Baricitinib 4 mg | Post hoc regional analysis (Phase III RCT) | Itch-dominant AD subgroup | HN, trunk, UL, LL | Regional EASI; EASI-75 by site | W16 EASI-75: HN 58.3%, trunk 69.2%, UL 61.5%, LL 87.5% |
| [24] | Hagino et al., 2023 | Baricitinib 4 mg + TCS | Real-world cohort (Japan) | 36 AD | HN, UL, LL, trunk | Regional EASI | W12 reduction: HN 56.9%, UL 68.3%, LL 80.7%, trunk 62.5% |
| [20] | Napolitano et al., 2024 | Baricitinib | Comparative cohort | 17 AD difficult-to-treat areas | HN 58.8%, hands 35.3%, genital 47.1% | Regional EASI; site persistence | EASI 23.88 → 4.75 at W16; no discontinuations |
| [25] | Lee et al., 2023 | Baricitinib 4 mg (±reduction) | Case series | 9 chronic hand/foot eczema | Hands/feet | IGA | 9/9 achieved ≥2-grade IGA improvement; mean 3 weeks; AEs 33% |
| [26] | Lim et al., 2024 | Baricitinib (add-on to dupilumab) | Retrospective cohort | 12 AD add-on | HN dermatitis 66.7% | CR/PR; NRS | 6 CR, 6 PR; 10/12 complete itch response |
| [27] | Rosenberg et al., 2022 | Baricitinib 4 mg | Case report (2 pts) | 2 severe chronic hand eczema | Hands | HECSI; QOLHEQ | HECSI 55 → 4 and 47 → 8 at W16; 1 discontinuation |
| UPADACITINIB | |||||||
| [28] | Weidinger et al., 2025 (UP-TAINED) | Upadacitinib 15/30 mg | Prospective multicenter real-world | 351 AD | Face (186), hands (142) | ADCT; EASI; vIGA-AD | W12 ADCT < 7 71%; M1 EASI-75 66.8%; vIGA 0/1 ~61% |
| [29] | Mortato et al., 2025 | Upadacitinib 15/30 mg | Multicenter retrospective | 150 AD | HN 82.6% | Global & regional EASI | W16 EASI-75 77.8%; HN EASI-75 68.5%; HN negative predictor |
| [30] | Kamphuis et al., 2023 (BioDay) | Upadacitinib 15/30 mg | Prospective multicenter cohort | 38 AD (32 HE) | Hands | EASI; HECSI; ADCT | W16 EASI 17.2 → 4.8; HECSI 45.2 → 10.3; HECSI-75 59.3% |
| [31] | Melgosa Ramos et al., 2026 | Upadacitinib 15/30 mg | Multicenter retrospective (>50 yrs) | 38 AD | Special areas 63.2% | EASI; IGA; MDA | EASI 17.41 → 1.08 at W52; 84.6% maintained MDA |
| [32] | Bonzano et al., 2025 | Upadacitinib 15 mg | Case report | 1 acral AD | Hands + nail apparatus | HECSI | HECSI 102 → 7 at 1 month (~93% reduction) |
| [33] | Yang et al., 2023 | Upadacitinib 15 mg | Case series | 6 AD (dupilumab-refractory) | Face/neck | EASI; DLQI; ADCT | W12 EASI 8.1 → 0.73; 100% EASI-75; no AEs |
| [34] | Licata et al., 2022 | Upadacitinib 15 mg BID | Case series | 3 AD | Face/neck | Clinical | Rapid improvement 4–8 weeks post-dupilumab |
| [35] | Licata et al., 2023 | Upadacitinib 15 mg | Case series | 4 adolescents | Eyelids | EASI; DLQI | Complete eyelid resolution by W8 |
| [36] | Hagino et al., 2024 | Upadacitinib 30 mg | Dose-escalation real-world | 23 AD | HN + other regions | Regional EASI | W4 EASI-75 68.2%; W12 66.7%; significant regional improvement |
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Cecere, D.; Lauletta, G.; Potestio, L.; Patruno, C.; Napolitano, M. The Use of JAK Inhibitors in AD Affecting Difficult-to-Treat Areas: Lessons from Real-Life. Dermato 2026, 6, 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/dermato6020021
Cecere D, Lauletta G, Potestio L, Patruno C, Napolitano M. The Use of JAK Inhibitors in AD Affecting Difficult-to-Treat Areas: Lessons from Real-Life. Dermato. 2026; 6(2):21. https://doi.org/10.3390/dermato6020021
Chicago/Turabian StyleCecere, Daniele, Giuseppe Lauletta, Luca Potestio, Cataldo Patruno, and Maddalena Napolitano. 2026. "The Use of JAK Inhibitors in AD Affecting Difficult-to-Treat Areas: Lessons from Real-Life" Dermato 6, no. 2: 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/dermato6020021
APA StyleCecere, D., Lauletta, G., Potestio, L., Patruno, C., & Napolitano, M. (2026). The Use of JAK Inhibitors in AD Affecting Difficult-to-Treat Areas: Lessons from Real-Life. Dermato, 6(2), 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/dermato6020021

