Baricitinib for the treatment of intestinal Behçet's disease: A pilot study

Jinjing Liu; Xin Yu; Zhimian Wang; Weiwei Liu; Xiaochuan Liu; Xiaoou Wang; Menghao Zhang; Yan Zhao; Fengchun Zhang; Hong Yang; Wenjie Zheng

doi:10.1016/j.clim.2023.109241

Baricitinib for the treatment of intestinal Behçet's disease: A pilot study

Clin Immunol. 2023 Feb:247:109241. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109241. Epub 2023 Jan 23.

Authors

Jinjing Liu¹, Xin Yu¹, Zhimian Wang¹, Weiwei Liu², Xiaochuan Liu³, Xiaoou Wang¹, Menghao Zhang¹, Yan Zhao¹, Fengchun Zhang¹, Hong Yang⁴, Wenjie Zheng⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology; State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH); Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100730, China.
² Department of Rheumatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Tai'an, Shan Dong 271000, China.
³ Department of Gastroenterology, Emergency General Hospital, Beijing, 100028, China.
⁴ Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
⁵ Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology; State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH); Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100730, China. Electronic address: zhengwj@pumch.cn.

PMID: 36702180
DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109241

Abstract

Objectives: The pilot study aims to explore the efficacy and safety of baricitinib in treating refractory intestinal Behçet's disease (BD).

Methods: We consecutively enrolled patients with refractory intestinal BD from October 2020 to September 2022. They were treated with baricitinib 2-4 mg daily, with background glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants. Efficacy assessment included the global gastrointestinal symptom scores, the endoscopy scores, the Disease activity index for intestinal Behçet's disease (DAIBD), and the inflammatory parameters. Side effects were recorded.

Results: The thirteen patients (six males and seven females) had a median follow-up of eleven months, 76.92% (10/13) patients achieved complete remission of global gastrointestinal symptom scores, and 66.7% (6/9) had mucosal healing on endoscopy. The DAIBD scores decreased significantly, as well as the C-reactive protein level. Baricitinib showed a glucocorticoid-sparing effect, and the safety profile is favorable.

Conclusion: Baricitinib might be a potential choice in treating refractory intestinal BD.

Keywords: Baricitinib; Intestinal Behçet's disease; Therapy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Behcet Syndrome* / diagnosis
Behcet Syndrome* / drug therapy
Female
Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
Humans
Intestinal Diseases* / drug therapy
Intestines
Male
Pilot Projects
Sulfonamides / therapeutic use

Substances

baricitinib
Sulfonamides
Glucocorticoids