Effectiveness of Janus kinase inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim . To assess the efficacy profiles of different dosing regimens of tofacitinib, baricitinib, and upadacitinib — novel selective oral Janus activated kinase inhibitors, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials and methods . Randomized controlled trials of tofacitinib, baricitinib and upadacitinib in RA were identified from MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases. Random- effects models were used to estimate pooled mean differences (MD) and relative risks (RRs). American College of Rheumatology 20 % (ACR20), Health Assessment Questionnaire–Disability Index (HAQ-DI) were calculated. Results . Twenty trials with an overall low risk of bias were identified. Tofacitinib, baricitinib, and upadacitinib improved RA control as deter -mined by ACR20 (RR, 2.03; 95 % CI, 1.87 to 2.20) and HAQ-DI (MD, −0.31; 95% CI, −0.34 to −0.28) compared with placebo. Conclusion . Tofacitinib, baricitinib, and upadacitinib significantly improve RA control. To make further decisions, comparative clinical trials of the Janus kinase inhibitors in the real-world clinical practice are necessary.