{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Tofacitinib as a possible treatment for skin thickening in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis.
{Author}: You H;Xu D;Hou Y;Zhou J;Wang Q;Li M;Zeng X;
{Journal}: Rheumatology (Oxford)
{Volume}: 60
{Issue}: 5
{Year}: 05 2021 14
{Factor}: 7.046
{DOI}: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa613
{Abstract}: To analyse the effectiveness of tofacitinib for the treatment of refractory skin thickening in dcSSc.<BR>Data from 10 patients with dcSSc treated with tofacitinib (5 mg twice daily) were analysed. A total of 12 dcSSc patients treated with intensive conventional immunosuppressants were selected as the historical comparator group. A clinically relevant response was defined as a decrease in the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) of >5 points and ≥25% from baseline. Clinical indicators were compared between the two groups to evaluate the effect of tofacitinib.<BR>The mRSS significantly improved the first month after tofacitinib treatment, with a mean change in the mRSS of -3.7 (95% CI -5.52, -1.88; P = 0.001) and greater than the comparators at 6 months [-10.0 (95% CI -14.74, -5.26) vs -4.1 (95% CI -7.49, -0.73), P = 0.026]. Tofacitinib-treated patients had a significantly shorter response time than the comparators (P = 0.015 by log-rank test), with overall response rates of 20% (2/10) vs 0% (0/12) and 60% (6/10) vs 16.7% (2/12) at 1 and 3 months, respectively.<BR>Our results indicate that tofacitinib may be as effective as or even better than intensive conventional immunosuppressants, with a quicker and higher response rate in refractory dcSSc patients with progressive skin thickness.