The effectiveness of Janus kinase inhibitors in treating atopic dermatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Primary studies have presented conflicting results on the efficacy of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in treating atopic dermatitis. Hence, it is important to determine the summary effect of JAK inhibitors in order to guide the clinical application of this potentially beneficial drug. To determine the efficacy of JAK inhibitors in treating atopic dermatitis in all age groups. A systematic review with meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on the effect of JAK inhibitors on the signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis were conducted. Six electronic databases, registries, and search engines (PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials [CENTRAL], Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Clinical.gov, and WHO ICTRP) were searched from inception to September, 2019. The search terms include atopic dermatitis, eczema, and Janus kinase inhibitor. The search was restricted to humans. A total of 413 studies were identified through the database search and hand-searching. After the selection process, five RCTs were included in this systematic review. A meta-analysis of three studies showed that JAK inhibitors were effective in reducing Eczema Area and Severity Index (P= .0001) and pruritus scores (P= .0001). JAK inhibitors appear to be effective in treating atopic dermatitis. Future studies should aim to evaluate its cost-effectiveness and availability to patients especially in developing countries.