Efficacy and safety of Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of pemphigus: A comprehensive literature review and future perspective

Heliyon. 2023 Nov 27;9(12):e22912. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22912. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a protein involved in B-cell-receptor signaling and B-cell proliferation. The pathophysiology of several autoimmune diseases, such as pemphigus disorder, relies on the BTK signaling pathway. Therefore, BTK inhibitors were found to be beneficial alternatives to conventional treatmentsThe current study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of BTK inhibitors in treating pemphigus. A complete search was performed on databases including PubMed/MedLine, Scopus, Web of Science, as well as Google Scholar search engine for studies published by September 20th, 2023. The current review indicates that BTK inhibitors alone or in combination with conventional treatments are promising options in the management of pemphigus. The overall safety profile of BTK inhibitors has been acceptable, and the reported adverse reactions were not severe or life-threatening.

Keywords: Bruton's tyrosine kinase; Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors; Immunomodulator agents; Pemphigus; Treatment.

Publication types

  • Review