Skip to main content

Rituximab vs. JAK inhibitors in Rheumatoid Lung Disease

There are no current FDA approved therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) or bronchiectasis, but a recent retrospective cohort study showed equivalent outcomes when RA-ILD patients were treated with either rituximab (RTX) or janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi).

Patients were identified by electronic patient record review. Analyzed outcomes included respiratory events (hospitalization or death from a respiratory cause) represented by Kaplan–Meier survival analysis.

A total of 28 patients received JAKi and 19 were treated with RTX for a mean of 1.1 and 2.1 years respectively.  These patients were  94% -CCP antibody positive, mostly non-smokers (89%) with a median predicted baseline FVC of 100% and percentage predicted TLCO of 62%.

Equivalent outcomes showed respiratory events in five JAKi patients (18%; 5 hospitalizations, 2 deaths) and in four RTX patients (21%; 3 hospitalizations, 1 death).

In this observational study, JAKi and RTX treatment for RA-ILD or bronchiectasis did not show different rates of hospitalization or death due to respiratory causes. A prospective, randomized trial is needed. 

ADD THE FIRST COMMENT

If you are a health practitioner, you may to comment.

Due to the nature of these comment forums, only health practitioners are allowed to comment at this time.

Disclosures
The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose related to this subject