Experience with Tofacitinib and Baricitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis

    March 2020 in “ Section 5: Patient safety and quality assurance ”
    MI Bernias Domínguez, M Mañes Sevilla, PM Bernias Domínguez, L Corrales Pérez, Isabel Sancho, I Morona Mínguez, J Solis Olivares, Carolina Sánchez
    From the encyclopedia
    Tofacitinib →

    a JAK inhibitor for alopecia areata and other autoimmune conditions

    Baricitinib →

    JAK inhibitor that reduces inflammation and immune attacks on hair follicles, leading to potential hair regrowth, especially in alopecia areata cases

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    Studysummary This study found that tofacitinib and baricitinib had an acceptable adverse reaction profile when used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, with similar side effects to those described in their technical data sheets.
    Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
    In a retrospective observational study conducted until September 2019, 47 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were analyzed for adverse effects (AEs) following treatment with tofacitinib and baricitinib at a second level hospital. The study included 12.8% men with a mean age of 57 years. All patients had previously been treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and 55.3% had received biologic agents, with an average of 1.7 previous biological treatments. A total of 24 AEs were detected in 31.9% of patients, with 30.8% of those on baricitinib and 28.6% on tofacitinib experiencing AEs such as infections, fatigue, changes in blood pressure, and hair loss. Baricitinib was discontinued in six cases due to lack of clinical improvement or AEs, while tofacitinib was stopped in five cases due to inefficacy or AEs. Despite potential underreporting of AEs, both drugs demonstrated an acceptable adverse reaction profile, consistent with their technical data sheets.
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