CNS demyelination during tofacitinib therapy: first report

F Massoud, II Ismail, JY Al-Hashel, H Abboud - Multiple Sclerosis and …, 2020 - Elsevier
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 2020Elsevier
Iatrogenic demyelination is a distinct clinical subtype of central nervous system inflammatory
disorders. The Janus kinase inhibitor, tofacitinib, is an oral disease-modifying antirheumatic
drug that has shown contradictory effects on multiple sclerosis in animal models. In this
report, we describe a novel case of reversible multifocal CNS demyelination in a patient with
seropositive rheumatoid arthritis on tofacitinib. Although the mechanism is not completely
understood, activation of T17 cells by tofacitinib and the subsequent increased production of …
Abstract
Iatrogenic demyelination is a distinct clinical subtype of central nervous system inflammatory disorders. The Janus kinase inhibitor, tofacitinib, is an oral disease-modifying antirheumatic drug that has shown contradictory effects on multiple sclerosis in animal models. In this report, we describe a novel case of reversible multifocal CNS demyelination in a patient with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis on tofacitinib. Although the mechanism is not completely understood, activation of T17 cells by tofacitinib and the subsequent increased production of interleukin-17 could be the cause. Moreover, a link between TNF-α and JAK/STAT pathways has been suggested, which may further explain the occurrence of iatrogenic demyelination in this case.
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