Cardiovascular risk and JAK inhibitor for the treatment of spondyloarthritis: A systematic review protocol

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Published Aug 1, 2025
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v103i8.5613
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Vol. 103 No. 8 (2025): Tunis Med Aug 2025

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Rim Dhahri
Department of Rheumatology, Military Hospital , Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar,1007, Tunis, Tunisia
Syrine Bellakhal
Internal Medicine department, Internal Forces Security Hospital, La Marsa, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar,1007, Tunis, Tunisia
Soumaya Boussaid
Department of Rheumatology, La Rabta Universitary Hospital, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar,1007, Tunis, Tunisia
Lobna Ben Ammar
Department of Rheumatology, Military Hospital , Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar,1007, Tunis, Tunisia
Hiba Bettaieb
Internal Medicine department, Internal Forces Security Hospital, La Marsa, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar,1007, Tunis, Tunisia
Imene Gharsallah
Department of Rheumatology, Military Hospital , Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar,1007, Tunis, Tunisia
Hela Sahli
Department of Rheumatology, La Rabta Universitary Hospital, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar,1007, Tunis, Tunisia
Mohamed Hedi Douggui
Internal Medicine department, Internal Forces Security Hospital, La Marsa, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar,1007, Tunis, Tunisia

Abstract

Introduction: JAK inhibitors, a newer class of medications, work by blocking specific enzymes (Janus kinases) that play a key role in inflammation. By inhibiting these enzymes, JAK inhibitors help alleviate inflammation and symptoms, providing an alternative treatment option to conventional therapies like NSAIDs and biologics. Considering the lack of updated findings on cardiovascular effects in SpA patients treated with JAK inhibitors, we will perform a systematic review of the literature to investigate the safety of JAK inhibitors in SpA patients. The aim of this review is to evaluate cardiovascular safety of JAK inhibitors.


Methods: We will search multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, using specific keywords such as "Janus kinase inhibitors," "JAK inhibitors," "spondyloarthritis," and "cardiac risk." Our inclusion criteria will focus on randomized controlled trials, that reports Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE), in patients treated with JAK inhibitors for spondyloarthritis. We will exclude cohort studies, and those without relevant cardiac data, as well as animal studies or those outside the scope of JAK inhibitor treatment. After screening titles and abstracts, we performed a full-text review of the selected articles to ensure the inclusion of studies with high methodological quality and relevant data on cardiac risk factors. The various stages of this literature search will be summarized using the Preferred Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) flow chart format to visualize the processes and findings of the review.


Results: The preliminary results demonstrated that the existing data indicated no significant.. (abstract truncated at 250 words).

Keywords:

Heart Disease Risk Factors, Cardiovascular Risk, spondyloarthritis, spondylarthritides, Janus Kinase Inhibitors, janus Kinase Inhibitors, tofacitinib, upadacitinib, baricitinib

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