Efficacy and Safety of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Type I Interferon-Mediated Monogenic Autoinflammatory Disorders: A Scoping Review

Importance: Type I interferon (IFN)-mediated monogenic autoinflammatory disorders (interferonopathies) are childhood-onset rare multisystemic diseases with limited treatment options. The Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are promising potential therapeutic candidates for immune-mediated chronic inflammatory skin diseases.

Objective: To review the use of JAK inhibitors to improve decision-making when treating interferonopathies with cutaneous manifestations.

Evidence review: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies that used JAK protein inhibitors to treat IFN-related monogenic diseases with cutaneous manifestations in humans. The search results are reported using the scoping review approach.

Findings: Seventeen open-label studies assessing the efficacy of ruxolitinib, baricitinib, or tofacitinib reported variable responses in patients with chronic atypical neutrophilic dermatosis with lipodystrophy and elevated temperature (CANDLE) and related syndromes, stimulator of IFN genes [STING]-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI), familial chilblain lupus (FCh-L), gain-of-function mutations of STAT1 (GOF-STAT1), or Aicardi-Goutiéres syndrome. JAK inhibitors improved clinical and analytical parameters and decreased flare numbers, plasma inflammatory markers, and expression of IFN-stimulated genes. BK viremia and upper respiratory infections were the most frequent and severe adverse events. Significant heterogeneity in efficacy assessment methods and poor reporting of safety events were detected.

Conclusions and relevance: Evidence of the use of JAK inhibitors in patients with interpheronopathies is scarce and of low methodological quality. Future clinical trials should use validated scales and report drug safety in a more accurate way.