Janus kinase inhibitors and biologics for treatment of livedoid vasculopathy: a systematic review.

Abstract

Purpose: Livedoid vasculopathy (LV) is a chronic microvascular thrombosis disorder with an unclear pathogenesis, potentially involving hypercoagulability and inflammation. This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors and biologics in the treatment of LV.

Materials and methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library on June 10, 2024, to identify relevant studies evaluating the use of JAK inhibitors and biologics in LV treatment.

Results: A total of 15 articles were included in the review. Among the 41 patients treated with biologics and JAK inhibitors, 36 (87.8%) showed positive clinical responses, including significant improvements in pain relief. TNF-α inhibitors were the most commonly used monotherapy, followed by JAK inhibitors. Adverse events were infrequent, suggesting that these treatments generally have a favorable safety profile.

Conclusions: JAK inhibitors and biologics appear to be safe and effective alternatives for managing refractory LV. These findings provide a foundation for future studies to further validate their clinical effectiveness and long-term safety.