Tofacitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor, has been associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study evaluated tofacitinib's effects on lipid parameters and the Show more
Tofacitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor, has been associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study evaluated tofacitinib's effects on lipid parameters and the impact of prior biological agents' therapy in RA patients. Thirty female RA patients starting tofacitinib were assessed at baseline and after 3 months. Clinical assessments, health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), disease activity score 28 (DAS28), inflammatory markers, lipid profile, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), activities of paraoxonase 1 (PON 1), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A After 3 months, HAQ and DAS28 scores improved significantly. Total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, non-HDL-C, and HDL capacity to acquire free cholesterol from TGRL increased, while enzyme activities and cholesterol efflux capacity remained unchanged. At baseline, patients with prior biological therapy (n = 19) had lower triglycerides, TC, non-HDL-C, and apolipoprotein (apo) B compared to biologic-naïve patients (n = 11). This group exhibited no lipid changes after tofacitinib, whereas biologic-naïve patients showed atherogenic increases in TC, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, apo B, Lp-PLA Tofacitinib improved disease activity and functional status in RA patients with minimal lipid changes. Patients previously treated with biological agents experienced no significant lipid alterations, while biologic-naïve patients showed atherogenic lipid changes and increased PON 1 activity. Prior biologic therapy may confer a more favorable CV profile before and after tofacitinib treatment. Show less