Off-Label Uses of Upadacitinib

Abstract

Background: Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors interfere with the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, which is vital in regulating inflammation and immune function. Notably, upadacitinib, a JAK inhibitor, has been increasingly used as a treatment modality for refractory inflammatory diseases. Methods: A literature review was conducted on Pubmed and Clinical Trials.gov using the keywords “upadacitinib” combined with “off-label”, “dermatology”, “skin”, or “cutaneous” from October 1st, 2021, to October 1st, 2023. 941 articles were reviewed, and 50 articles were included.   Results:  The systematic search revealed 20 different dermatology conditions treated with off-label use of upadacitinib. Most of these conditions showed drastic improvement by actively decreasing the inflammatory response involved in the pathogenesis of that condition. The most common side effects reported for the medication were elevated creatine kinase, headaches, urinary tract infections, and acne. Patients should also be advised to consider the shingles vaccines prior to upadacitinib treatment. Conclusion: Upadacitinib shows potential utility in the treatment of refractory inflammatory dermatologic conditions, treatment-resistant pruritus, and medication-induced skin reactions. Further large-scale, controlled clinical trials are needed to evaluate the further indications of upadacitinib and its safety profile.