Analysis of Reddit Reveals JAK Inhibitor Questions Among Atopic Dermatitis Patients

April 2024 | Volume 23 | Issue 4 | e121 | Copyright © April 2024


Published online March 12, 2024

Kripa Ahuja MSa, Grace DeSena BAb, Peter Lio MDc

aEastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 
bThe University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 
cNorthwestern University, Department of Dermatology, Chicago, IL



classify and should be interpreted with caution given the lack of verification methods. It is possible that some mentioned side effects will appear in pooled forums before more conventional clinical awareness develops. For example, text-mining of online healthcare forums can identify novel side effects, helping target post-marketing drug surveillance.6 

Mentioned side effects not included in the prescribing information for JAKis include depression, delayed wound healing, and gynecomastia. 

Delayed wound healing may be plausible given the growth factors and cytokines necessary for wound healing utilizing the JAK/STAT intracellular signaling pathway for gene transcription.7

Regarding the general usage instructions category, many posts centered on the shingles vaccine, pointing to an area that may require greater clarification from physicians. Similarly, a post mentioned grapefruit usage in a clinical trial, suggesting that physicians may need to elaborate on dietary issues. Notably, prescribing information for upadacitnib recommends that physicians advise