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Case Reports
. 2021 Apr 21:22:101104.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2021.101104. eCollection 2021 Jun.

Tofacitinib for refractory ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid

Hayley James  1 , Grace L Paley  1 , Richard Brasington  1   2 , Philip L Custer  1 , Todd P Margolis  1 , Michael A Paley  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Tofacitinib for refractory ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid

Hayley James et al. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. .

Abstract

Purpose: To report the successful use of tofacitinib in the treatment of refractory ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP).

Observations: Two patients with ocular MMP presented with refractory disease after failure of multiple therapies. Treatment with tofacitinib led to durable control of conjunctival inflammation within 8 weeks and no apparent progression of sub-conjunctival fibrosis. One patient maintained absence of apparent disease activity over 16 months of follow-up. Cessation of tofacitinib in the other patient led to disease relapse which was reversed by re-initiation of therapy.

Conclusions and importance: Small molecule inhibitors of Janus kinases, such as tofacitinib, may offer an effective treatment option for refractory ocular MMP.

Keywords: JAK; JAK inhibitor; Mucous membrane pemphigoid; Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid; STAT; Tofacitinib.

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Conflict of interest statement

The following authors have no financial disclosures: H.J., G.L.P., T.P.M., and M.A.P. R.B. receives speaking fees from Pfizer. P.L.C. owns stocks in Pfizer.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Color photographs of case 1 before and after treatment with tofacitinib.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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