Comprehensive evaluation of bone structural and microarchitectural changes in rheumatoid arthritis treated with baricitinib using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT), imaging, and biomarker analyses
Authors' conclusion
Baricitinib treatment inhibited the progression of bone erosions and also induced partial repair in some lesions, accompanied by improvements in periarticular bone microarchitecture.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) initiating baricitinib
- Participants
- 14 patients
- Outcome
- Bone structure in the second and third metacarpal heads assessed by HR-pQCT
- Follow-up
- 6 and 12 months
Methodological detailssingle-group
- Single-group
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
12 months
- No new bone erosions detected during the 12-month period
- Several pre-existing erosions showed partial repair
- Favourable trends in trabecular bone parameters, including increases in volumetric BMD and trabecular thickness
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Serum bone-related biomarkers
- Serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) significantly increased
- Osteopontin (OPN) and IL-23 decreased
Inflammatory mediators
- Increased Eotaxin and decreased MCP-3
Synovitis, osteitis and tenosynovitis (US and MRI)
- Improvements in synovitis, osteitis and tenosynovitis
Original publication
Comprehensive evaluation of bone structural and microarchitectural changes in rheumatoid arthritis treated with baricitinib using HR-pQCT, imaging, and biomarker analyses. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Published 12 February 2026. doi:10.
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