Wang, TWu, WZhang, XGan, BZhou, YCheng, X.2025-06-182025-06-182025-04Wang T, Wu W, Zhang X, Gan B, Zhou Y, Cheng X.. Tofacitinib treatment for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. 2025 Apr; 91(2): 172-1790378-63230973-3922https://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/249389Objectives: Tofacitinib is used as an oral Janus-associated kinase (JAK) inhibitor acting on JAK1 and JAK3, in treating psoriatic disease. However, there is still no consensus on the optimal dosage and duration of tofacitinib. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of tofacitinib in treating psoriatic disease. Methods: A literature search was done utilising Cochrane library, Medline, EMBASE, Wiley Online library, Web of Science and BIOSIS Previews through December 18, 2022. We performed a meta-analysis of published original studies to assess the impact of tofacitinib in plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis therapy based on seven randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving 2,672 patients (receiving tofacitinib) and 853 controls (receiving placebo). Results: Compared with placebo, the treatment of 5 mg twice-daily (BID) tofacitinib for 12 weeks is sufficient to significantly alleviate the main clinical manifestations of psoriasis [?75% decrease in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI 75): Risk ratio (RR)=4.38 (95% Confidence interval (CI) 2.51 to 7.64); ?90% decrease in PASI score (PASI 90): RR=21.68 (95% CI 4.20 to 111.85); Physician’s Global Assessment of ‘clear’ or ‘almost clear’ (PGA 0/1): RR=3.93 (95%CI 3.03 to 5.09)]. Interestingly, there was no significant difference in improvement in PGA 0/1 with 5 mg BID tofacitinib given for 16 weeks when compared with 5 mg BID tofacitinib for 12 weeks [RR=1.11 (95%CI 0.98 to 1.25)]. Additionally, the 5 mg BID tofacitinib for 16 weeks treatment schedule significantly increased the incidence of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) [RR=1.89 (95%CI 1.06 to 3.38)] as compared to 5 mg BID tofacitinib for 12 weeks treatment schedule [RR=1.15 (95%CI 0.60 to 2.20)]. Conclusion: The 5 mg BID tofacitinib for 12 weeks treatment significantly improved psoriasis without causing too many specific adverse events. This indicated that tofacitinib is an effective treatment plan for psoriatic disease by reasonably controlling dosage and dosing time.Adverse drug eventsefficacyplaque psoriasispsoriatic arthritistofacitinibJournal ArticleIndiaDepartment of Sexual Medicine/Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fifth People’s Hospital of Shunde District (Longjiang Hospital of Shunde District), Foshan, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Medical Science, Shunde Polytechnic, Foshan, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Fifth People’s Hospital of Shunde District (Longjiang Hospital of Shunde District), Foshan, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, China