Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Therapeutic effect of tofacitinib combined with leflunomide for refractory Takayasu arteritis: pilot study
Authors' conclusion
The regimen of TOF combined with LEF might be a promising novel option in treating refractory TAK patients.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with refractory TAK, East China Takayasu Arteritis (ECTA) cohort, Zhongshan Hospital, May 2020 to August 2024
- Participants
- 24 patients
- Outcome
- Remission rate
- Follow-up
- 6 and 12 months
Methodological detailspilot study, single-group
- Pilot study
- Single-group
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Remission rate at 6 months (95CI: 69.0%-95.7%)
87.5%
Remission rate at 12 months (95CI: 59.5%-90.8%)
79.2%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
GC dose, tapered from baseline 15.2±12.9 mg/day · 6 and 12 months
- GC dose at 6 months (vs baseline, p = 0.02)
- 7.8±4.5 mg/d
- GC dose at 12 months (vs baseline, p = 0.001)
- 6.5±4.5 mg/day
Stability or improvement in imaging (patients with magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) follow-up)
- Stability or improvements in imaging among patients with MRA follow-up
- 5/7 (71.4%)
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) · 12 months
- ESR baseline vs 12 months (p = 0.02)
- 36.3±33.8 mm/h vs. 17.1±17.6 mm/h
Safety
- Well-tolerated with only few and mild adverse events
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Therapeutic effect of tofacitinib combined with leflunomide for refractory Takayasu arteritis: pilot study. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 6 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →