Title:Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Volume: 13
Issue: 6
Author(s): Jose A. Gomez-Puerta and Attila Mocsai
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Tyrosine kinases, fostamatinib, tofacitinib, rheumatoid arthritis, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
Abstract: Tyrosine kinases (TK) are enzymes capable of transferring phosphate groups to tyrosine residues in cytoplasmic
proteins or the intracellular domains of transmembrane receptors. TK play critical roles in diverse biological functions
including cellular processes such as adhesion, motility, proliferation, cell cycle control, cell death, as well as biological
functions at the whole-organism level such as growth and development, metabolism or immune defense. TK inhibitors including
spleen TK (fostamatinib) and Janus kinases (tofacitinib) inhibitors are two novel oral therapies that have demonstrated
short-term good clinical responses in active rheumatoid arthritis patients with and inadequate responses to
methotrexate or other traditional (non-biologic) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Those responses are
comparable to responses rates from pivotal trials of TNF inhibitors. TK inhibitors are generally well tolerated but not free
of adverse effects. Several side effects had been described including gastrointestinal symptoms, neutropenia, hypertension,
elevated liver function test and lipid alterations among others.
Owing to the limited duration of follow-up of patients treated with TK inhibitors, the long term safety profile of these
drugs are unknown.
