Description
Juvenile and adult dermatomyositis (JDM/DM) are rare inflammatory conditions that frequently affect muscle and skin to cause muscle weakness and skin rashes. People with the diseases have increased activity of a particular protein called interferon, which uses Janus kinases (JAKs) to signal. JAK inhibitors intended to treat other JAK-related diseases have been used by mouth to help with JDM and DM management, but this publication is the first report of JDM and DM skin rash improvement with a topical JAK inhibitor cream.
What is exciting about this article?
This case report is the first description of topical ruxolitinib—a JAK inhibitor—improving skin rash in two patients with JDM or DM who did not improve with other treatments. JAK inhibitors in a cream formulation offer an alternative way to manage skin rash in JDM and DM instead of using systemic treatments, which may have more side effects.
Grant support
1ZIAAR041215
Research Areas:
Research reported in this publication was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIHʼs National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.