Tofacitinib in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis – single-centre experience

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety profile of tofacitinib taken orally at a dose of 10 mg/day in patients with severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The retrospective observational study included 10 patients (6 women and 4 men) with RA treated with tofacitinib. All the patients had high disease activity (DAS28 [ESR] > 5.1), despite therapy with two synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Before the initiation of treatment, routine laboratory tests were performed, and disease activity was assessed in all the subjects. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients in the study group was 58.18 years (43–67). The average duration of RA was 9.9 years (2–24). The mean baseline value of DAS28 (ESR) was 6.37. Tofacitinib was used in combination with a conventional DMARD in all study subjects: with methotrexate in the majority of patients, and with leflunomide and an antimalarial drug in three patients. The mean duration of therapy with tofacitinib was 7.57 months (3.9–10.8). A significant decrease in the disease activity was observed (p < 0.05). A reduction in DAS28 (ESR) score was seen already after the first month of therapy, and the trend was maintained during subsequent months of follow-up. The mean value of DAS28 (ESR) after 6 months was 2.78. A slight increase in the serum concentration of HDL cholesterol was observed during treatment. In one patient symptoms of chronic upper respiratory tract infection led to discontinuation of the drug. The observed adverse events were of mild/moderate degree. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our retrospective observational study conducted in the setting of daily clinical practice confirm a good clinical response to tofacitinib. Despite the observed adverse effects, in the light of the available data tofacitinib demonstrates a favourable safety profile. JAK kinase inhibitors – a new class of drugs – will enable a wider population of patients to achieve remission or low disease activity.