Season 8, Episode 1: Navigating JAK Inhibitors and Pregnancy: Insights and Implications

Welcome to the Evidence-Based Hair Podcast, hosted by dermatologist and hair loss specialist Dr. Jeff Donovan. As the director of the Donovan Hair Academy, Dr. Donovan is dedicated to educating both the public and practitioners about hair loss through comprehensive training programs like the Evidence-Based Hair Fellowship. In this episode, Dr. Donovan delves into the critical topic of JAK inhibitors and their safety during pregnancy. He explores a pivotal study published in Drug Safety that examines pregnancy outcomes in patients treated with Upadacitinib, a JAK inhibitor used for various inflammatory disorders, including alopecia areata. The episode provides an in-depth analysis of data from clinical trials and post-marketing reports, highlighting the impact of JAK inhibitors on pregnancy outcomes, such as congenital anomalies and live births. Dr. Donovan discusses the importance of understanding the safety of these medications in pregnancy and emphasizes the need for more research in this area. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the complexities of managing hair loss treatments during pregnancy and the challenges faced by patients and clinicians alike. Dr. Donovan also shares promising findings and case studies involving other JAK inhibitors, offering a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and future directions in this field. Join us for this informative episode as Dr. Donovan addresses a pressing concern in the world of hair loss and pregnancy, providing expert analysis and guidance for both practitioners and patients.     REFERENCES Uma Mahadevan et al. Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients Treated with Upadacitinib: Analysis of Data from Clinical Trials and Postmarketing Reports. Drug Saf . 2024 Oct;47(10):1039-1049. doi: 10.1007/s40264-024-01454-0. Epub 2024 Jul 15.   Megan E B Clowse et al. Pregnancy Outcomes in the Tofacitinib Safety Databases for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriasis. Drug Saf . 2016 Aug;39(8):755-62. doi: 10.1007/s40264-016-0431-z.   Mahadevan U et al. Outcomes of Pregnancies With Maternal/Paternal Exposure in the Tofacitinib Safety Databases for Ulcerative Colitis. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2018 Nov 29;24(12):2494-2500. doi: 10.1093/ibd/izy160.