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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Nov;40(11):4671-4674.
doi: 10.1007/s10067-021-05884-4. Epub 2021 Aug 24.

Janus kinase inhibitors and major COVID-19 outcomes: time to forget the two faces of Janus! A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Dimitrios Patoulias  1 , Michael Doumas  2   3 , Christodoulos Papadopoulos  4 , Asterios Karagiannis  2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Janus kinase inhibitors and major COVID-19 outcomes: time to forget the two faces of Janus! A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Dimitrios Patoulias et al. Clin Rheumatol. 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) represents a global public health nightmare. The "cytokine storm," the most prominent underlying pathophysiologic mechanism of this disease, can theoretically be targeted at several stages. Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors constitute a drug class that could ameliorate the inflammatory response and enhance antibody production. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of JAK inhibitors in patients with COVID-19, performing the most updated relevant meta-analysis. We searched two major databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) enrolling adult patients with documented COVID-19 in the in-hospital setting, assigned either to JAK inhibitor treatment plus standard of care or standard of care alone. We set as primary efficacy outcome the endpoint of COVID-19 death on day 28 and as secondary efficacy composite outcome that of mechanical ventilation or initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We finally pooled data of interest from 4 RCTs in a total of 1338 subjects with documented COVID-19 infection, utilizing the following JAK inhibitors: baricitinib, ruxolitinib, tofacitinib, and nezulcitinib. Treatment with JAK inhibitor compared to control resulted in a significant reduction in the risk for COVID-19 death by 43%, while it also led to a significant decrease in the risk for mechanical ventilation or ECMO initiation by 36%. Herein, we demonstrate a clear benefit with JAK inhibitors added to standard of care in patients with COVID-19 in terms of risk reduction concerning major outcomes. Larger RCTs will elucidate their place in treatment armamentarium against COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Janus kinase inhibitor; Mechanical ventilation; Mortality.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Effect of JAK inhibitors compared to control on the risk for COVID-19 death
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effect of JAK inhibitors compared to control on the risk for mechanical ventilation or ECMO initiation in the context of COVID-19
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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