Open AccessSuspected herpes zoster-associated encephalitis during treatment with oral tofacitinib in alopecia universalis
Author(s) -
Anna-Marie Hosking,
Margit Juhász,
Natasha Atanaskova Mesinkovska
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of trichology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.494
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 0974-9241
pISSN - 0974-7753
DOI - 10.4103/ijt.ijt_87_18
Subject(s) - medicine , alopecia universalis , tofacitinib , dermatology , adverse effect , shingles , rash , folliculitis , janus kinase inhibitor , concomitant , mucocutaneous zone , malignancy , surgery , alopecia areata , immunology , rheumatoid arthritis , virus , disease
Systemic administration of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) is associated with adverse events, including serious infections, malignancy, and herpes zoster (HZ). Herein, we report a case of a 17-year-old male with alopecia universalis who developed suspected HZ-associated encephalitis (HZAE) during treatment with oral tofacitinib. Oral tofacitinib was immediately discontinued, and the patient was started on antiviral treatment. We present this case to highlight a serious complication that can arise with oral JAKi therapy. Physicians should have a high index of clinical suspicion for HZAE in any patient presenting with a vesicular rash and concomitant neurologic impairments while systemically immunosuppressed.