Changes in Serum Cytokines May Predict Therapeutic Efficacy of Tofacitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Table 3

Comparison of responders and nonresponders at week 24 after tofacitinib treatment.

	Responders()	Nonresponders()	value
Demographics
Age, median (IQR), years	43 (31-62)	45 (35-59)	0.23
Sex (F/M)	19/6	6/1	0.69
Disease duration, median (IQR), years	5.8 (4.9-14.8)	6.2 (5.3-15.2)	0.55
Disease characteristics
CRP, median (IQR), mg/L	11.8 (9.0-15.6)	22.7 (21.4-66.2)	<0.0001
DAS28-ESR, median (IQR)	2.0 (1.9-2.3)	3.3 (3.2-4.9)	<0.0001
RF positive, (%)	38.5 (20.0-93.7)	53.8 (20-1083)	0.66
ACPA positive, (%)	17 (17-32)	17 (17-231)	0.24
Medication type
Tofacitinib, (%)	25 (100.0)	7 (100.0)	1.0000
NSAID, (%)	20 (80.0)	6 (85.7)	0.49
CS, (%)	5 (20.0)	3 (42.6)
Oral prednisone dose (mg/day)	10 (5-10)	10 (5-10)	1.000
Concomitant DMARDs
MTX, (%)	12 (48.0)	3 (42.8)	0.53
LEF, (%)	9 (36.0)	4 (57.1)	0.62
SSZ, (%)	3 (12.0)	1 (14.3)	0.44
HCQ, (%)	18 (72.0)	5 (71.4)	0.27
Serum cytokines
IFN-γ	1.8 (1.1-2.2)	5.5 (5.1-6.0)	<0.0001
IL-6	3.5 (2.5-5.8)	11.9 (6.9-12.9)	0.011
IL-17	4.2 (3.4-5.9)	12.5 (5.3-17.3)	0.0048
IL-35	104.3 (72.2-194.5)	28.2 (27.5-29.7)	0.0011
TNF-α	2.6 (2.1-3.2)	4.1 (2.6-5.7)	0.0943

Abbreviations: RA: rheumatoid arthritis; IQR: interquartile range; F: femal; M: male; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reaction protein; TJC: tender joint count; SJC: swollen joint count; HAQ-DI: Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index; VAS: visual analogue scale; DAS28: disease activity score in 28 joints based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate; RF: rheumatoid factor; ACPAs: anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies; NSAID: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; CS: corticosteroid; MTX: methotrexate; LEF: leflunomide; SSZ: sulfasalazine; HCQ: hydroxychloroquine.