<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE article PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD JATS (Z39.96) Journal Publishing DTD v1.3 20210610//EN" "JATS-journalpublishing1-3-mathml3.dtd">
<article article-type="research-article" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" dtd-version="1.3" xml:lang="EN">
<front>
<journal-meta>
<journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">Front. Pediatr.</journal-id>
<journal-title-group>
<journal-title>Frontiers in Pediatrics</journal-title>
<abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="pubmed">Front. Pediatr.</abbrev-journal-title>
</journal-title-group>
<issn pub-type="epub">2296-2360</issn>
<publisher>
<publisher-name>Frontiers Media S.A.</publisher-name>
</publisher>
</journal-meta>
<article-meta>
<article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.3389/fped.2025.1643668</article-id>
<article-version article-version-type="Version of Record" vocab="NISO-RP-8-2008"/>
<article-categories>
<subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
<subject>Original Research</subject>
</subj-group>
</article-categories>
<title-group>
<article-title>Safety and efficacy of tofacitinib in children with ulcerative colitis complicated with arthropathy: a single-center study</article-title>
</title-group>
<contrib-group>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name><surname>Miao</surname><given-names>Shijian</given-names></name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref>
<uri xlink:href="https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/3104400/overview"/>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="methodology" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/methodology/">Methodology</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="investigation" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/investigation/">Investigation</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="visualization" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/visualization/">Visualization</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="Writing &#x2013; original draft" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/writing-original-draft/">Writing &#x2013; original draft</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="Project administration" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/project-administration/">Project administration</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="conceptualization" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/conceptualization/">Conceptualization</role></contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name><surname>Wang</surname><given-names>Shengnan</given-names></name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref>
<uri xlink:href="https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/1301089/overview" />
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="conceptualization" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/conceptualization/">Conceptualization</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="methodology" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/methodology/">Methodology</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="Project administration" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/project-administration/">Project administration</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="investigation" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/investigation/">Investigation</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="visualization" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/visualization/">Visualization</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="Writing &#x2013; review &amp; editing" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/writing-review-editing/">Writing &#x2013; review &amp; editing</role></contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name><surname>Hu</surname><given-names>Wenhui</given-names></name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="Writing &#x2013; review &amp; editing" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/writing-review-editing/">Writing &#x2013; review &amp; editing</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="visualization" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/visualization/">Visualization</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="methodology" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/methodology/">Methodology</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="investigation" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/investigation/">Investigation</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="Project administration" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/project-administration/">Project administration</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="conceptualization" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/conceptualization/">Conceptualization</role>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author" corresp="yes">
<name><surname>Huang</surname><given-names>Ying</given-names></name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref>
<xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1">&#x002A;</xref>
<uri xlink:href="https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/998388/overview" />
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="investigation" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/investigation/">Investigation</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="methodology" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/methodology/">Methodology</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="Writing &#x2013; review &amp; editing" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/writing-review-editing/">Writing &#x2013; review &amp; editing</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="conceptualization" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/conceptualization/">Conceptualization</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="Project administration" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/project-administration/">Project administration</role>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author" corresp="yes">
<name><surname>Shi</surname><given-names>Yu</given-names></name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>2</sup></xref>
<xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1">&#x002A;</xref>
<uri xlink:href="https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/1547592/overview" />
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="Formal analysis" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/formal-analysis/">Formal analysis</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="methodology" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/methodology/">Methodology</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="visualization" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/visualization/">Visualization</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="Data curation" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/data-curation/">Data curation</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="resources" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/resources/">Resources</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="conceptualization" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/conceptualization/">Conceptualization</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="Project administration" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/project-administration/">Project administration</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="Writing &#x2013; review &amp; editing" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/writing-review-editing/">Writing &#x2013; review &amp; editing</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="supervision" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/supervision/">Supervision</role>
<role vocab="credit" vocab-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/" vocab-term="investigation" vocab-term-identifier="https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/investigation/">Investigation</role></contrib>
</contrib-group>
<aff id="aff1"><label>1</label><institution>Department of Gastroenterology, National Children&#x2019;s Medical Center, Children&#x2019;s Hospital of Fudan University</institution>, <city>Shanghai</city>, <country country="cn">China</country></aff>
<aff id="aff2"><label>2</label><institution>Department of Rheumatology, National Children&#x2019;s Medical Center, Children&#x2019;s Hospital of Fudan University</institution>, <city>Shanghai</city>, <country country="cn">China</country></aff>
<author-notes>
<corresp id="cor1"><label>&#x002A;</label><bold>Correspondence:</bold> Yu Shi <email xlink:href="mailto:shiyu_821008@163.com">shiyu_821008@163.com</email> Ying Huang <email xlink:href="mailto:yhuang815@163.com">yhuang815@163.com</email></corresp>
</author-notes>
<pub-date publication-format="electronic" date-type="pub" iso-8601-date="2025-11-14"><day>14</day><month>11</month><year>2025</year></pub-date>
<pub-date publication-format="electronic" date-type="collection"><year>2025</year></pub-date>
<volume>13</volume><elocation-id>1643668</elocation-id>
<history>
<date date-type="received"><day>09</day><month>06</month><year>2025</year></date>
<date date-type="accepted"><day>31</day><month>10</month><year>2025</year></date>
</history>
<permissions>
<copyright-statement>&#x00A9; 2025 Miao, Wang, Hu, Huang and Shi.</copyright-statement>
<copyright-year>2025</copyright-year><copyright-holder>Miao, Wang, Hu, Huang and Shi</copyright-holder><license><ali:license_ref start_date="2025-11-14">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</ali:license_ref>
<license-p>This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY)</ext-link>. The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.</license-p></license>
</permissions>
<abstract><sec><title>Objectives</title>
<p>Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor initially used for the treatment of arthritis. It demonstrated to effectively induce and maintain remission in adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, data on its safety and efficacy in children with ulcerative colitis (UC), particularly in children with comorbid arthropathy, remained limited. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tofacitinib in treating children with UC who also had comorbid arthropathy.</p>
</sec><sec><title>Methods</title>
<p>We conducted a retrospective cohort study enrolling children with UC and comorbid arthropathy who received tofacitinib treatment at the Gastroenterology Department of the Children&#x0027;s Hospital of Fudan University from January 2018 to December 2024. All enrolled UC patients underwent blood tests, stool tests, and colonoscopies, with the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI) used to assess clinical indicators, clinical response, and clinical remission.</p>
</sec><sec><title>Results</title>
<p>A total of 16 patients met the inclusion criteria, all of whom presented with comorbid arthropathy. The mean age at onset was 7.1&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;3.7 years, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 14.6&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;2.0&#x2005;kg/m<sup>2</sup>. All patients had previously failed biologic therapy with infliximab. The majority patients initiated tofacitinib treatment at a starting dose of 2.5&#x2005;mg twice daily (bid) and adjusted based on clinical response, with a maximum dose of 5&#x2005;mg bid. Fecal calprotectin and endoscopic scores decreased significantly by weeks 14, 21, and 30, while albumin and BMI levels increased (all <italic>p</italic>&#x2009;&#x003C;&#x2009;0.05). The mean PUCAI scores also demonstrated a significant decline. One patient (6.25&#x0025;) achieved clinical response by week 7, nine (56.25&#x0025;) by week 14, and five (31.25&#x0025;) by week 21. Six patients (37.5&#x0025;) achieved clinical remission by week 30.</p>
</sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title>
<p>Our study provided promising evidence for the safety and efficacy of tofacitinib as part of the treatment regimen for children with UC complicated with arthropathy. Further large-scale, prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>
<kwd-group>
<kwd>arthropathy</kwd>
<kwd>tofacitinib</kwd>
<kwd>ulcerative colitis</kwd>
<kwd>children</kwd>
<kwd>safety and efficacy</kwd>
</kwd-group><funding-group>
<funding-statement>The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article.</funding-statement>
</funding-group>
<counts>
<fig-count count="3"/>
<table-count count="2"/><equation-count count="0"/><ref-count count="25"/><page-count count="7"/><word-count count="8213212"/></counts><custom-meta-group><custom-meta><meta-name>section-at-acceptance</meta-name><meta-value>Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition</meta-value></custom-meta></custom-meta-group>
</article-meta>
</front>
<body><sec id="s1" sec-type="intro"><title>Introduction</title>
<p>Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are chronic, relapsing inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. The prevalence of IBD is increasing globally, particularly among children (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref>). Symptoms include weight loss, diarrhea, bloody stools, and abdominal pain. Currently, there is no cure for IBD, and the primary treatment goal is to maintain clinical remission without the use of glucocorticoids (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref>). Treatment options include conventional pharmacological therapies and surgical intervention (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref>). Beyond gastrointestinal symptoms, up to 40&#x0025; of children with IBD experience extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs), which can involve the joints, skin, eyes, and hepatobiliary system. These EIMs contribute significantly to disease burden, with studies reporting that children with EIMs have poorer health-related quality of life (QoL) compared to those without, including increased pain, fatigue, and psychosocial distress. For instance, musculoskeletal EIMs&#x2014;such as arthritis&#x2014;affect 10&#x0025;&#x2013;20&#x0025; of childhood IBD cases and are a leading cause of disability, while dermatologic and ocular manifestations further exacerbate morbidity. Given their profound impact on physical and emotional well-being, early recognition and multidisciplinary management of EIMs are essential to improving outcomes in children with IBD (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref>&#x2013;<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B6">6</xref>). In some cases, arthritis may precede gastrointestinal symptoms (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B7">7</xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B8">8</xref>).</p>
<p>Targeting the Janus kinase (JAK) pathway has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for IBD. Tofacitinib, an oral JAK inhibitor, selectively inhibits JAK1 and JAK3 in the JAK-STAT pathway, thereby reducing proinflammatory cytokines (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref>). Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012 for severe active rheumatoid arthritis and in 2018 for UC, tofacitinib has been available in China for the past two years. However, data on its use in chilldhood IBD, particularly in patients with associated inflammatory arthropathy, remain limited (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B5">5</xref>). Therefore, we conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in children with UCcomplicated by arthropathy.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="s2" sec-type="methods"><title>Methods</title>
<sec id="s2a"><title>Study cohort</title>
<p>We conducted a perspective cohort study at the IBD Center of the Children&#x0027;s Hospital of Fudan University from January 2018 to December 2024 (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="F1">Figure&#x00A0;1</xref>).</p>
<fig id="F1" position="float"><label>Figure&#x00A0;1</label>
<caption><p>Patient inclusion flowchart.</p></caption>
<graphic mimetype="image" mime-subtype="tiff" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="fped-13-1643668-g001.tif"><alt-text content-type="machine-generated">Flowchart depicting the enrollment process of IBD hospitalized patients at Children's Hospital of Fudan University. From January 2018 to December 2024, 566 patients were included. Twenty received tofacitinib treatment. Four were excluded due to follow-up loss, severe infection, or emergency surgery for intestinal perforation. Sixteen patients were enrolled in the baseline.</alt-text>
</graphic>
</fig>
</sec>
<sec id="s2b"><title>Inclusion criteria</title>
<list list-type="order">
<list-item>
<p>Patients must meet the clinical, laboratory, and endoscopic diagnostic criteria outlined in Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children and Adolescents: Recommendations for Diagnosis&#x2013;The Porto Criteria (2005).</p></list-item>
<list-item>
<p>Patients were required to have arthritis manifestations (either monoarticular or polyarticular) confirmed by imaging studies.</p></list-item>
<list-item>
<p>Tofacitinib must be administered for the first time.</p></list-item>
</list>
</sec>
<sec id="s2c"><title>Exclusion criteria</title>
<list list-type="order">
<list-item>
<p>Patients with incomplete clinical data.</p></list-item>
<list-item>
<p>Patients requiring urgent surgical intervention due to complications such as intestinal obstruction, perforation, or gastrointestinal bleeding.</p></list-item>
<list-item>
<p>Patients with severe underlying conditions, including malignancies, moderate-to-severe heart failure, or multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.</p></list-item>
<list-item>
<p>Patients with active infections such as tuberculosis or hepatitis B virus infection.</p></list-item>
<list-item>
<p>Patients with thrombotic disorders or coagulation dysfunction.</p></list-item>
</list>
</sec>
<sec id="s2d"><title>Data collection</title>
<p>We reviewed electronic medical records to collect demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiographic, and endoscopic data. Baseline characteristics included patient demographics (age, gender, BMI, medical history), disease features (symptoms, UC subtype), tofacitinib treatment details (induction and maintenance doses, duration, prior therapies), biochemical markers (serum C-reactive protein, albumin, hemoglobin), fecal calprotectin and endoscopic findings. Clinical response and adverse events were assessed at weeks 7, 14, 21, and 30.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="s2e"><title>Clinical outcomes</title>
<p>We evaluated PUCAI scores at weeks 7, 14, and 21. Disease activity was categorized as follows: 0&#x2013;9 (no activity), 10&#x2013;34 (mild activity), 35&#x2013;64 (moderate activity), and 65&#x2013;85 (severe activity) (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B6">6</xref>). Adverse events previously associated with tofacitinib were retrospectively assessed. Treatment failure was defined as the absence of significant symptom improvement, discontinuation of tofacitinib, or referral for surgery. Relapse was defined as therapeutic failure after an initial response or discontinuation of treatment.</p>
<p>Clinical remission was defined as a PUCAI score&#x2009;&#x003C;&#x2009;10 and corticosteroid-free treatment without the need for new medications or colectomy. Clinical response was defined as a decrease in PUCAI score by &#x2265;20 or by one activity level from baseline.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="s2f"><title>Statistical analysis</title>
<p>Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0. Continuous variables were expressed as mean&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;standard deviation (SD) or median (interquartile range), while categorical data were expressed as percentages and absolute numbers. A <italic>P</italic>-value &#x003C;0.05 was considered statistically significant.</p>
</sec>
</sec>
<sec id="s3" sec-type="results"><title>Results</title>
<sec id="s3a"><title>General and clinical characteristics</title>
<p>Sixteen patients were included in the study. The male-to-female ratio was approximately 3:5. The mean age at onset was 7.1&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;3.7 years, with a mean weight of 18.7&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;8.0&#x2005;kg, height of 109.9&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;20.8&#x2005;cm, and BMI of 14.6&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;2.0&#x2005;kg/m<sup>2</sup>. All patients presented with abdominal pain, diarrhea, hematochezia, and tenesmus. Anemia and hypoalbuminemia were observed in 14 patients (87.5&#x0025;), while fever was reported in five (31.3&#x0025;). All 16 children presented with arthropathy, of which 4 cases were peripheral arthritis and 12 cases were axial arthritis. The Jadas 10 score was 12.7&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;4.1 (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B7">7</xref>) [1] (<xref ref-type="table" rid="T1">Table&#x00A0;1</xref>).</p>
<table-wrap id="T1" position="float"><label>Table&#x00A0;1</label>
<caption><p>Baseline characteristics in the 16 UC patients.</p></caption>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th valign="top" align="left">Baseline demographics</th>
<th valign="top" align="center"><italic>n</italic>&#x2009;&#x003D;&#x2009;16</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Male, <italic>n</italic> (&#x0025;)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">6 (37.5&#x0025;)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Age, year, median</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">7.1&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;3.7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Weight, kg, median</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">18.7&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;8.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Height, cm, median</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">109.9&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;20.8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">BMI, kg/m<sup>2</sup>, median</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">14.6&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;2.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left" colspan="2" style="background-color:#7e8080">Symptoms, <italic>n</italic> (&#x0025;)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Abdominal pain</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">16 (100)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Hematochezia</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">16 (100)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Diarrhea</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">16 (100)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Tenesmus</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">16 (100)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Anemia</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">14 (87.5)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Fever</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">5 (31.3)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Hypoalbuminemia</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">14 (87.5)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Peripheral arthritis</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">4 (25)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Axial arthritis</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">12 (75)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Jadas 10</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">12.7&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;4.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left" colspan="2" style="background-color:#7e8080">IBD subtype, <italic>n</italic> (&#x0025;)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">UC</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">16 (100)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left" colspan="2" style="background-color:#7e8080">UC characteristics, <italic>n</italic> (&#x0025;)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Left-sided colitis</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">2 (12.5)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Pancolitis</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">14 (87.5)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left" colspan="2" style="background-color:#7e8080">Biologic therapy before tofacitinib initiation, months</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Infliximab</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">12.3&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;4.2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table-wrap-foot>
<fn id="TF1"><p>UC, ulcerative colitis.</p></fn>
</table-wrap-foot>
</table-wrap>
</sec>
<sec id="s3b"><title>Clinical response and remission</title>
<p>Clinical symptoms, including abdominal pain, hematochezia, diarrhea, tenesmus, and arthropathy, improved significantly by weeks 7, 14, 21, and 30. All patients had previously failed infliximab therapy, with a median washout period of 12.3&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;4.2 months. Twelve patients (75.0&#x0025;) were on steroids at the initiation of tofacitinib. By week 30, only 2 patients (87.5&#x0025;) discontinued steroids (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="F2">Figure&#x00A0;2</xref>).</p>
<fig id="F2" position="float"><label>Figure&#x00A0;2</label>
<caption><p>During JAK treatment, patients with IBD experience improvements in their digestive systems and systemic symptoms.</p></caption>
<graphic mimetype="image" mime-subtype="tiff" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="fped-13-1643668-g002.tif"><alt-text content-type="machine-generated">Line graph showing the number of patients with various symptoms over 30 weeks of treatment. Symptoms include abdominal pain, hematochezia, diarrhea, tenesmus, fever, arthropathy, and steroid-free status. Most lines decline, indicating symptom reduction over time, except the dashed line for steroid-free status, which rises.</alt-text>
</graphic>
</fig>
<p>Fecal calprotectin decreased significantly by weeks 14, 21, and 30, while albumin and BMI levels increased (all <italic>P</italic>&#x2009;&#x003C;&#x2009;0.05). Endoscopic scores (Mayo score) showed a significant reduction from weeks 0 to 30. Jadas 10 score decreased from weeks 0 to 30. The mean PUCAI score decreased from 45.0&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;5.4 to 11.9&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;6.0. At the 0-week, all sixteen patients were in moderate disease activity. From week 7 to week 30, the number of patients with no active disease increased to six (37.5&#x0025;), and the number of patients with mild activity increased to ten (62.5&#x0025;) (<xref ref-type="table" rid="T2">Table&#x00A0;2</xref>). One patient (6.25&#x0025;) achieved clinical response by week 7, and nine (56.25&#x0025;) at week 14, five (31.25&#x0025;) at week 21. Six patients (37.5&#x0025;) achieved clinical remission by week 30.</p>
<table-wrap id="T2" position="float"><label>Table&#x00A0;2</label>
<caption><p>Laboratory and clinical parameter shifts under JAK inhibitor treatment.</p></caption>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th valign="top" align="left">Laboratory indicators</th>
<th valign="top" align="center">Week 0</th>
<th valign="top" align="center">Week 7</th>
<th valign="top" align="center">Week 14</th>
<th valign="top" align="center">Week 21</th>
<th valign="top" align="center">Week 30</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">CRP (mg/L)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">19.7&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;29.6</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">17.8&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;33.9</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">12.7&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;25.2</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">4.0&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;3.6</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">3.6&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;5.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">ESR (mm/h)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">72.8&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;34.1</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">58.9&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;30.1</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">52.9&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;26.4<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF3"><sup>b</sup></xref></td>
<td valign="top" align="center">37.6&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;20.6<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF4"><sup>c</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF7"><sup>f</sup></xref></td>
<td valign="top" align="center">33.4&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;17.5<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF5"><sup>d</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF8"><sup>g</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF10"><sup>i</sup></xref></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">WBC (&#x00D7;10<sup>9</sup>/L)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">11.4&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;5.4</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">11.4&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;5.0</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">9.3&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;3.5</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">9.1&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;3.3</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">9.9&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;4.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Plt (&#x00D7;10<sup>9</sup>/L)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">442.7&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;144.6</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">362.8&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;131.8</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">428.6&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;135.6</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">382.4&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;150.7</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">354.9&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;89.8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Hb (g/L)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">92.8&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;17.6</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">98.6&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;14.3</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">108.1&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;18.2<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF3"><sup>b</sup></xref></td>
<td valign="top" align="center">118.0&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;16.4<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF4"><sup>c</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF7"><sup>f</sup></xref></td>
<td valign="top" align="center">118.7&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;16.9<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF5"><sup>d</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF8"><sup>g</sup></xref></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Albumin (g/L)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">35.6&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;2.8</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">37.3&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;3.1</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">38.6&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;3.1<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF3"><sup>b</sup></xref></td>
<td valign="top" align="center">39.4&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;2.5<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF4"><sup>c</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF7"><sup>f</sup></xref></td>
<td valign="top" align="center">40.4&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;2.5<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF5"><sup>d</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF8"><sup>g</sup></xref></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">BMI (kg/m<sup>2</sup>)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">14.6&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;2.0</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">15.1&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;2.0</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">15.9&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;2.2</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">16.4&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;2.5<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF4"><sup>c</sup></xref></td>
<td valign="top" align="center">16.9&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;2.7<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF5"><sup>d</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF8"><sup>g</sup></xref></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Jadas 10</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">12.7&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;4.1</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">9.9&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;3.8<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF2"><sup>a</sup></xref></td>
<td valign="top" align="center">5.4&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;2.7<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF3"><sup>b</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF6"><sup>e</sup></xref></td>
<td valign="top" align="center">2.9&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;1.8<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF4"><sup>c</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF7"><sup>f</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF9"><sup>h</sup></xref></td>
<td valign="top" align="center">6.5&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;5.1<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF5"><sup>d</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF8"><sup>g</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF10"><sup>i</sup></xref></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Fecal calprotectin (&#x03BC;g/g)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">461.3&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;294.6</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">350.1&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;208.0</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">228.6&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;158.7<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF3"><sup>b</sup></xref></td>
<td valign="top" align="center">180.7&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;127.7<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF4"><sup>c</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF7"><sup>f</sup></xref></td>
<td valign="top" align="center">142.9&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;134.1<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF5"><sup>d</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF8"><sup>g</sup></xref></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Mayo score</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">10.6&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;2.1</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">&#x2013;</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">&#x2013;</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">&#x2013;</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">4.7&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;4.2<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF5"><sup>d</sup></xref></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">PUCAI Score</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">45.0&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;5.4</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">37.2&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;3.9<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF2"><sup>a</sup></xref></td>
<td valign="top" align="center">29.2&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;6.9<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF3"><sup>b</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF6"><sup>e</sup></xref></td>
<td valign="top" align="center">17.8&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;5.4<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF4"><sup>c</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF7"><sup>f</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF9"><sup>h</sup></xref></td>
<td valign="top" align="center">11.9&#x2009;&#x00B1;&#x2009;6.0<xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF5"><sup>d</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF8"><sup>g</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF10"><sup>i</sup></xref><sup>,</sup><xref ref-type="table-fn" rid="TF11"><sup>j</sup></xref></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left" colspan="6" style="background-color:#7e8080"><italic>n</italic> (&#x0025;)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">No activity (0&#x2013;9)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">0</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">0</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">0</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">0</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">6 (37.5&#x0025;)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Mild activity (10&#x2013;34)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">0</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">1 (6.25&#x0025;)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">10 (62.5&#x0025;)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">16 (100&#x0025;)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">10 (62.5&#x0025;)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Moderate activity (35&#x2013;64)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">16 (100&#x0025;)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">15 (93.75&#x0025;)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">6 (37.5&#x0025;)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">0</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" align="left">Severe activity (65&#x2013;85)</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">0</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">0</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">0</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">0</td>
<td valign="top" align="center">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table-wrap-foot>
<fn id="TF2"><label>a</label>
<p>Week 0 vs. week 7.</p></fn>
<fn id="TF3"><label>b</label>
<p>Week 0 vs. week 14.</p></fn>
<fn id="TF4"><label>c</label>
<p>Week 0 vs. week 21.</p></fn>
<fn id="TF5"><label>d</label>
<p>Week 0 vs. week 30.</p></fn>
<fn id="TF6"><label>e</label>
<p>Week 7 vs. week 14.</p></fn>
<fn id="TF7"><label>f</label>
<p>Week 7 vs. week 21.</p></fn>
<fn id="TF8"><label>g</label>
<p>Week 7 vs. week 30.</p></fn>
<fn id="TF9"><label>h</label>
<p>Week 14 vs. week 21.</p></fn>
<fn id="TF10"><label>i</label>
<p>Week 14 vs. week 30.</p></fn>
<fn id="TF11"><label>j</label>
<p>Week 21 vs. week 30.</p></fn>
</table-wrap-foot>
</table-wrap>
</sec>
<sec id="s3c"><title>Dose</title>
<p>All children with UCcompleted the 30-week treatment course. Tofacitinib dosages were adjusted based on clinical symptoms, joint scores, changes in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin level. Fifteen children started with an initial dose of 2.5&#x2005;mg twice daily (bid). Among them: 1 case was adjusted to 5&#x2005;mg in the morning and 2.5&#x2005;mg in the evening at 2 months, then reduced to 2.5&#x2005;mg bid at 11 months; 3 cases were adjusted to 5&#x2005;mg in the morning and 2.5&#x2005;mg in the evening at 4 months; 2 cases were escalated to 5&#x2005;mg bid at 7 and 8 months, respectively; 1 case was increased to 5&#x2005;mg bid at 11 months and later reduced to 2.5&#x2005;mg bid at 19 months. The remaining 1 patient started at 5&#x2005;mg in the morning and 2.5&#x2005;mg in the evening, then adjusted to 5&#x2005;mg bid at 12 months (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="F3">Figure&#x00A0;3</xref>).</p>
<fig id="F3" position="float"><label>Figure&#x00A0;3</label>
<caption><p>Treatment flow chart of subject treatment included in analysis.</p></caption>
<graphic mimetype="image" mime-subtype="tiff" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="fped-13-1643668-g003.tif"><alt-text content-type="machine-generated">Flowchart depicting treatment changes among 16 UC patients. Fifteen patients started with 2.5 mg bid. Adjustments included dose changes after 2 to 19 months. One patient started with 5/2.5 mg bid, changing to 5 mg bid after 12 months.</alt-text>
</graphic>
</fig>
</sec>
<sec id="s3d"><title>Adverse events</title>
<p>No serious drug-related adverse events were reported, and no thromboembolic events were observed. Eight mild infectious events were recorded in 16 patients, none of which required discontinuation of tofacitinib.</p>
</sec>
</sec>
<sec id="s4" sec-type="discussion"><title>Discussion</title>
<p>Our study demonstrated the potential of tofacitinib as a salvage therapy for childhood IBD, particularly in patients with inflammatory arthritis. By week 30, 37.5&#x0025; of patients achieved corticosteroid-free remission, with significant improvements in clinical symptoms and joint symptoms. Additionally, reductions were observed in fecal calprotectin and endoscopic scores, along with a notable decline in PUCAI score. Adverse events were limited to mild infections.</p>
<p>This study represented the first Asian report on the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in childhood UC with associated arthropathy. Among the patients, one (6.25&#x0025;) achieved clinical response by week 7, nine (56.25&#x0025;) by week 14, and five (31.25&#x0025;) by week 21. Overall, six patients (37.5&#x0025;) achieved clinical remission by the 30-week mark. Tofacitinib demonstrated moderate efficacy in both inducing and maintaining remission in children with UC. In the OCTAVE Induction 1 and 2 trails&#x2013;two Phase III clinical studies&#x2014;the induction relief effect of tofacitinib (10&#x2005;mg twice daily) was evaluated after 8 weeks of treatment. The results revealed that the tofacitinib group had significantly higher rates of clinical remission (18.5&#x0025; vs. 8.2&#x0025;, <italic>p</italic>&#x2009;&#x003C;&#x2009;0.001) and endoscopic improvement (31.3&#x0025; vs. 15.6&#x0025;, <italic>p</italic>&#x2009;&#x003C;&#x2009;0.001) compared to the placebo group (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B7">7</xref>). The OCTAVE Sustain study further assessed the efficacy of tofacitinib in maintenance therapy. Patients receiving tofacitinib (5&#x2005;mg or 10&#x2005;mg twice daily) exhibited significantly higher clinical remission rates at 52 weeks compared to the placebo group (34.3&#x0025; vs. 40.6&#x0025; vs. 11.1&#x0025;, <italic>p</italic>&#x2009;&#x003C;&#x2009;0.001) (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B8">8</xref>). Recent real-word studies on tofacitinib in adults have reported higher remission rates than those observed in our study. For instance, a multicenter study in the United Kingdom by Honap et al. demonstrated a 74&#x0025; response rate and a 44&#x0025; corticosteroid-free remission rate at week 8. However, this cohort was less refractory to prior biologics, with 18&#x0025; being biologic na&#x00EF;ve and only 36&#x0025; refractory to two biologics. Notably, in this adult study, patients with primary non-response were significantly younger than responders, suggesting that the younger age of our cohort may have influenced response rates (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B9">9</xref>). Similarly, in a Spanish real-life cohort study by Chaparro et al. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B10">10</xref>), 60&#x0025; of patients achieved a response, and 31&#x0025; attained clinical remission by week 8.</p>
<p>Tofacitinib has been explored as a treatment option for refractory IBD in several studies. For instance, one study demonstrated that among 19 patients with severe refractory CD, 58&#x0025; were able to continue tofacitinib treatment, and 46&#x0025; exhibited a positive response during endoscopic evaluation (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B11">11</xref>). In another study involving 21 children and adolescents aged 2&#x2013;18 years, tofacitinib treatment led to a significant reduction in clinical activity index over 52 weeks, with some patients achieving clinical remission (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B12">12</xref>). Additionally, a retrospective study reported that 71&#x0025; of children treated with a combination of tofacitinib and biologics achieved a glucocorticoid-free response at the 6-month mark (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B13">13</xref>).</p>
<p>Tofacitinib has been approved by the US FDA for the treatment of active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in children aged 2 years and older, particularly for patients who have shown inadequate response or intolerance to one or more TNF inhibitors (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B14">14</xref>). Clinical trials have demonstrated that tofacitinib significantly reduces the risk of disease flare-ups and improves disease activity levels. For example, in a 48-week Phase III clinical trial, the JIA-ACR70 and JIA-ACR90 response rates for the tofacitinib group were 60.0&#x0025; and 33.6&#x0025;, respectively, with efficacy progressively improving over time. Additionally, 26&#x0025; of patients achieved disease-free status within 44 weeks of treatment (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B15">15</xref>). Arthropathy is a common complication in patients with IBD, particularly in those with CD and UC. It often presents as peripheral arthropathy, frequently affecting joints such as the hips and knees (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B16">16</xref>). While tofacitinib is primarily used to manage intestinal inflammation, its mechanism of action&#x2014;targeting the JAK-STAT signaling pathway&#x2014;may also help control systemic inflammation associated with IBD, including arthropathy (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B12">12</xref>). Tofacitinib has shown promise in treating IBD-related arthropathy, especially in cases where conventional therapies have failed (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B17">17</xref>). At our center, we observed that tofacitinib may indirectly alleviate joint symptoms by improving intestinal inflammation, particularly in patients who did not respond to traditional treatments. These findings align with other studies, highlighting the potential dual benefit of tofacitinib in managing both intestinal and extraintestinal manifestations of IBD. Additionally, tofacitinib is an oral small-molecule drug, which is more cost-effective compared to biologic agents. This makes it a more accessible and affordable treatment option for children in less developed regions.</p>
<p>The safety profile of tofacitinib is consistent with that of other JAK inhibitors, with common adverse events including infections (such as herpes zoster), upper respiratory tract infections, non-melanoma skin cancer, and cardiovascular events (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B18">18</xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B19">19</xref>). In the OCTAVE Sustain trial, the tofacitinib group exhibited higher rates of overall infections and herpes zoster compared to the placebo group, but no significant increase in serious adverse events was observed (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B18">18</xref>). However, tofacitinib has been associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular events, such as thrombosis and myocardial infarction (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B20">20</xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B21">21</xref>). In our study, drug-related adverse events were limited to mild infections, with no reported cases of thromboembolic events.</p>
<p>Tofacitinib is typically administered twice daily, with a recommended dose of either 5&#x2005;mg or 10&#x2005;mg. Clinical trials have demonstrated that the 10&#x2005;mg dose offers high efficacy and a favorable safety profile (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B22">22</xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B23">23</xref>). In some studies, tofacitinib dosages have ranged from 0.5&#x2005;mg to 15&#x2005;mg, with the 10&#x2005;mg dose significantly improving clinical and endoscopic response rates by week 8 (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B24">24</xref>). For children, the dosage may need to be adjusted based on age and weight (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B25">25</xref>). At our center, treatment is initiated at a dose of 2.5&#x2005;mg bid and adjusted according to clinical response, with a maximum dose of 5&#x2005;mg bid.</p>
<p>In conclusion, our study supports the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in the treating children with UC and associated arthritis. But our study had a relatively small sample size, which may limit the statistical power and generalizability of the results. However, multicenter and long-term studies are still needed to further evaluate its therapeutic effects and safety profile.</p>
</sec>
</body>
<back>
<sec id="s5" sec-type="data-availability"><title>Data availability statement</title>
<p>The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="s6" sec-type="ethics-statement"><title>Ethics statement</title>
<p>The studies involving humans were approved by the institutional ethics committee of Children&#x0027;s Hospital of Fudan University with the approval No. 198 [2018]. The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. Written informed consent for participation in this study was provided by the participants&#x2019; legal guardians/next of kin.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="s7" sec-type="author-contributions"><title>Author contributions</title>
<p>SM: Methodology, Investigation, Visualization, Writing &#x2013; original draft, Project administration, Conceptualization. SW: Conceptualization, Methodology, Project administration, Investigation, Visualization, Writing &#x2013; review &#x0026; editing. WH: Writing &#x2013; review &#x0026; editing, Visualization, Methodology, Investigation, Project administration, Conceptualization. YH: Investigation, Methodology, Writing &#x2013; review &#x0026; editing, Conceptualization, Project administration. YS: Formal analysis, Methodology, Visualization, Data curation, Resources, Conceptualization, Project administration, Writing &#x2013; review &#x0026; editing, Supervision, Investigation.</p>
</sec>
<ack><title>Acknowledgments</title>
<p>The authors thank the patients for their participation.</p>
</ack>
<sec id="s9" sec-type="COI-statement"><title>Conflict of interest</title>
<p>The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="s10" sec-type="ai-statement"><title>Generative AI statement</title>
<p>The author(s) declare that no Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.</p>
<p>Any alternative text (alt text) provided alongside figures in this article has been generated by Frontiers with the support of artificial intelligence and reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, including review by the authors wherever possible. If you identify any issues, please contact us.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="s11" sec-type="disclaimer"><title>Publisher&#x0027;s note</title>
<p>All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.</p>
</sec>
<ref-list><title>References</title>
<ref id="B1"><label>1.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Gasparetto</surname> <given-names>M</given-names></name> <name><surname>Guariso</surname> <given-names>G.</given-names></name></person-group> <article-title>Highlights in IBD epidemiology and its natural history in the paediatric age</article-title>. <source>Gastroenterol Res Pract</source>. (<year>2013</year>) <volume>2013</volume>:<fpage>829040</fpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1155/2013/829040</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">24454343</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B2"><label>2.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Yu</surname> <given-names>YR</given-names></name> <name><surname>Rodriguez</surname> <given-names>JR.</given-names></name></person-group> <article-title>Clinical presentation of Crohn&#x2019;s, ulcerative colitis, and indeterminate colitis: symptoms, extraintestinal manifestations, and disease phenotypes</article-title>. <source>Semin Pediatr Surg</source>. (<year>2017</year>) <volume>26</volume>(<issue>6</issue>):<fpage>349</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>55</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1053/j.sempedsurg.2017.10.003</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">29126502</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B3"><label>3.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Bruscoli</surname> <given-names>S</given-names></name> <name><surname>Febo</surname> <given-names>M</given-names></name> <name><surname>Riccardi</surname> <given-names>C</given-names></name> <name><surname>Migliorati</surname> <given-names>G.</given-names></name></person-group> <article-title>Glucocorticoid therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: mechanisms and clinical practice</article-title>. <source>Front Immunol</source>. (<year>2021</year>) <volume>12</volume>:<fpage>691480</fpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.3389/fimmu.2021.691480</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">34149734</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B4"><label>4.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Sandborn</surname> <given-names>WJ</given-names></name> <name><surname>Su</surname> <given-names>C</given-names></name> <name><surname>Sands</surname> <given-names>BE</given-names></name> <name><surname>D&#x0027;Haens</surname> <given-names>GR</given-names></name> <name><surname>Vermeire</surname> <given-names>S</given-names></name> <name><surname>Schreiber</surname> <given-names>S</given-names></name><etal/></person-group> <article-title>Tofacitinib as induction and maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis</article-title>. <source>N Engl J Med</source>. (<year>2017</year>) <volume>376</volume>(<issue>18</issue>):<fpage>1723</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>36</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1056/NEJMoa1606910</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">28467869</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B5"><label>5.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Dolinger</surname> <given-names>MT</given-names></name> <name><surname>Rolfes</surname> <given-names>P</given-names></name> <name><surname>Phan</surname> <given-names>BL</given-names></name> <name><surname>Dubinsky</surname> <given-names>MC.</given-names></name></person-group> <article-title>Letter: tofacitinib use for biologic-refractory paediatric inflammatory bowel disease</article-title>. <source>Aliment Pharmacol Ther</source>. (<year>2019</year>) <volume>50</volume>(<issue>8</issue>):<fpage>966</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>7</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1111/apt.15496</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">31591772</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B6"><label>6.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Turner</surname> <given-names>D</given-names></name> <name><surname>Otley</surname> <given-names>AR</given-names></name> <name><surname>Mack</surname> <given-names>D</given-names></name> <name><surname>Hyams</surname> <given-names>J</given-names></name> <name><surname>de Bruijne</surname> <given-names>J</given-names></name> <name><surname>Uusoue</surname> <given-names>K</given-names></name><etal/></person-group> <article-title>Development, validation, and evaluation of a pediatric ulcerative colitis activity index: a prospective multicenter study</article-title>. <source>Gastroenterology</source>. (<year>2007</year>) <volume>133</volume>(<issue>2</issue>):<fpage>423</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>32</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1053/j.gastro.2007.05.029</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">17681163</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B7"><label>7.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Backstr&#x00F6;m</surname> <given-names>M</given-names></name> <name><surname>Tynj&#x00E4;l&#x00E4;</surname> <given-names>P</given-names></name> <name><surname>Ylijoki</surname> <given-names>H</given-names></name> <name><surname>Aalto</surname> <given-names>K</given-names></name> <name><surname>K&#x00E4;rki</surname> <given-names>J</given-names></name> <name><surname>Pohjankoski</surname> <given-names>H</given-names></name><etal/></person-group> <article-title>Finding specific 10-joint juvenile arthritis disease activity score (JADAS10) and clinical JADAS10 cut-off values for disease activity levels in non-systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a Finnish multicentre study</article-title>. <source>Rheumatology (Oxford)</source>. (<year>2016</year>) <volume>55</volume>(<issue>4</issue>):<fpage>615</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>23</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1093/rheumatology/kev353</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B8"><label>8.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Pan&#x00E9;s</surname> <given-names>J</given-names></name> <name><surname>Sandborn</surname> <given-names>WJ</given-names></name> <name><surname>Schreiber</surname> <given-names>S</given-names></name> <name><surname>Sands</surname> <given-names>BE</given-names></name> <name><surname>Vermeire</surname> <given-names>S</given-names></name> <name><surname>D&#x0027;Haens</surname> <given-names>G</given-names></name><etal/></person-group> <article-title>Tofacitinib for induction and maintenance therapy of Crohn&#x2019;s disease: results of two phase IIb randomised placebo-controlled trials</article-title>. <source>Gut</source>. (<year>2017</year>) <volume>66</volume>(<issue>6</issue>):<fpage>1049</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>59</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1136/gutjnl-2016-312735</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B9"><label>9.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Honap</surname> <given-names>S</given-names></name> <name><surname>Chee</surname> <given-names>D</given-names></name> <name><surname>Chapman</surname> <given-names>TP</given-names></name> <name><surname>Patel</surname> <given-names>M</given-names></name> <name><surname>Kent</surname> <given-names>AJ</given-names></name> <name><surname>Ray</surname> <given-names>S</given-names></name><etal/></person-group> <article-title>Real-world effectiveness of tofacitinib for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis: a multicentre UK experience</article-title>. <source>J Crohns Colitis</source>. (<year>2020</year>) <volume>14</volume>(<issue>10</issue>):<fpage>1385</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>93</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaa075</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">32280965</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B10"><label>10.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Chaparro</surname> <given-names>M</given-names></name> <name><surname>Garre</surname> <given-names>A</given-names></name> <name><surname>Mesonero</surname> <given-names>F</given-names></name> <name><surname>Rodr&#x00ED;guez</surname> <given-names>C</given-names></name> <name><surname>Barreiro-de Acosta</surname> <given-names>M</given-names></name> <name><surname>Mart&#x00ED;nez-Cadilla</surname> <given-names>J</given-names></name><etal/></person-group> <article-title>Tofacitinib in ulcerative colitis: real-world evidence from the ENEIDA registry</article-title>. <source>J Crohns Colitis</source>. (<year>2021</year>) <volume>15</volume>(<issue>1</issue>):<fpage>35</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>42</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaa145</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">32969471</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B11"><label>11.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Wiles</surname> <given-names>CA</given-names></name> <name><surname>Shah</surname> <given-names>NB</given-names></name> <name><surname>Bell</surname> <given-names>J</given-names></name> <name><surname>Pabla</surname> <given-names>BS</given-names></name> <name><surname>Scoville</surname> <given-names>EA</given-names></name> <name><surname>Dalal</surname> <given-names>RL</given-names></name><etal/></person-group> <article-title>Tofacitinib adherence and outcomes in refractory inflammatory bowel disease</article-title>. <source>Crohns Colitis 360</source>. (<year>2021</year>) <volume>3</volume>(<issue>4</issue>):<fpage>otab075</fpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1093/crocol/otab075</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">36777280</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B12"><label>12.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Moore</surname> <given-names>H</given-names></name> <name><surname>Dubes</surname> <given-names>L</given-names></name> <name><surname>Fusillo</surname> <given-names>S</given-names></name> <name><surname>Baldassano</surname> <given-names>R</given-names></name> <name><surname>Stein</surname> <given-names>R.</given-names></name></person-group> <article-title>Tofacitinib therapy in children and young adults with pediatric-onset medically refractory inflammatory bowel disease</article-title>. <source>J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr</source>. (<year>2021</year>) <volume>73</volume>(<issue>3</issue>):<fpage>e57</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>62</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1097/MPG.0000000000003190</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">34091545</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B13"><label>13.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Dolinger</surname> <given-names>MT</given-names></name> <name><surname>Spencer</surname> <given-names>EA</given-names></name> <name><surname>Lai</surname> <given-names>J</given-names></name> <name><surname>Dunkin</surname> <given-names>D</given-names></name> <name><surname>Dubinsky</surname> <given-names>MC.</given-names></name></person-group> <article-title>Dual biologic and small molecule therapy for the treatment of refractory pediatric inflammatory bowel disease</article-title>. <source>Inflamm Bowel Dis</source>. (<year>2021</year>) <volume>27</volume>(<issue>8</issue>):<fpage>1210</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>4</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1093/ibd/izaa277</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">33125058</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B14"><label>14.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Banerjee</surname> <given-names>S</given-names></name> <name><surname>Biehl</surname> <given-names>A</given-names></name> <name><surname>Gadina</surname> <given-names>M</given-names></name> <name><surname>Hasni</surname> <given-names>S</given-names></name> <name><surname>Schwartz</surname> <given-names>DM.</given-names></name></person-group> <article-title>JAK-STAT signaling as a target for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases: current and future prospects</article-title>. <source>Drugs</source>. (<year>2017</year>) <volume>77</volume>:<fpage>521</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>46</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1007/s40265-017-0701-9</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">28255960</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B15"><label>15.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Brunner</surname> <given-names>HI</given-names></name> <name><surname>Akikusa</surname> <given-names>JD</given-names></name> <name><surname>Al-Abadi</surname> <given-names>E</given-names></name> <name><surname>Bohnsack</surname> <given-names>JF</given-names></name> <name><surname>Boteanu</surname> <given-names>AL</given-names></name> <name><surname>Chedeville</surname> <given-names>G</given-names></name><etal/></person-group> <article-title>Safety and efficacy of tofacitinib for the treatment of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: preliminary results of an open-label, long-term extension study</article-title>. <source>Ann Rheum Dis</source>. (<year>2024</year>) <volume>83</volume>(<issue>11</issue>):<fpage>1561</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>71</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1136/ard-2023-225094</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">38849152</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B16"><label>16.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Horton</surname> <given-names>DB</given-names></name> <name><surname>Sherry</surname> <given-names>DD</given-names></name> <name><surname>Baldassano</surname> <given-names>RN</given-names></name> <name><surname>Weiss</surname> <given-names>PF.</given-names></name></person-group> <article-title>Enthesitis is an extraintestinal manifestation of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease</article-title>. <source>Ann Paediatr Rheumatol</source>. (<year>2012</year>) <volume>1</volume>(<issue>4</issue>):<fpage>10.5455/apr.102920121510</fpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.5455/apr.102920121510</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B17"><label>17.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Wang</surname> <given-names>Y</given-names></name> <name><surname>Wan</surname> <given-names>Z</given-names></name> <name><surname>Jin</surname> <given-names>R</given-names></name> <name><surname>Xu</surname> <given-names>T</given-names></name> <name><surname>Ouyang</surname> <given-names>Y</given-names></name> <name><surname>Wang</surname> <given-names>B</given-names></name><etal/></person-group> <article-title>Tofacitinib for extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease: a literature review</article-title>. <source>Int Immunopharmacol</source>. (<year>2022</year>) <volume>105</volume>:<fpage>108517</fpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108517</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">35063751</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B18"><label>18.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Moran</surname> <given-names>K</given-names></name> <name><surname>Null</surname> <given-names>K</given-names></name> <name><surname>Huang</surname> <given-names>Z</given-names></name> <name><surname>Lissoos</surname> <given-names>T</given-names></name> <name><surname>Kane</surname> <given-names>S.</given-names></name></person-group> <article-title>Retrospective claims analysis indirectly comparing medication adherence and persistence between intravenous biologics and oral small-molecule therapies in inflammatory bowel diseases</article-title>. <source>Adv Ther</source>. (<year>2019</year>) <volume>36</volume>(<issue>9</issue>):<fpage>2260</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>72</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1007/s12325-019-01037-x</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">31385283</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B19"><label>19.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Chang</surname> <given-names>S</given-names></name> <name><surname>Murphy</surname> <given-names>M</given-names></name> <name><surname>Malter</surname> <given-names>L.</given-names></name></person-group> <article-title>A review of available medical therapies to treat moderate-to-severe inflammatory bowel disease</article-title>. <source>Am J Gastroenterol</source>. (<year>2024</year>) <volume>119</volume>(<issue>1</issue>):<fpage>55</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>80</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.14309/ajg.0000000000002485</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">37615291</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B20"><label>20.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Charles-Schoeman</surname> <given-names>C</given-names></name> <name><surname>Wicker</surname> <given-names>P</given-names></name> <name><surname>Gonzalez-Gay</surname> <given-names>MA</given-names></name> <name><surname>Boy</surname> <given-names>M</given-names></name> <name><surname>Zuckerman</surname> <given-names>A</given-names></name> <name><surname>Soma</surname> <given-names>K</given-names></name><etal/></person-group> <article-title>Cardiovascular safety findings in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tofacitinib, an oral Janus kinase inhibitor</article-title>. <source>Semin Arthritis Rheum</source>. (<year>2016</year>) <volume>46</volume>(<issue>3</issue>):<fpage>261</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>71</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1016/j.semarthrit.2016.05.014</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">27443588</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B21"><label>21.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Sinh</surname> <given-names>P</given-names></name> <name><surname>Cross</surname> <given-names>R.</given-names></name></person-group> <article-title>Cardiovascular risk assessment and impact of medications on cardiovascular disease in inflammatory bowel disease</article-title>. <source>Inflamm Bowel Dis</source>. (<year>2021</year>) <volume>27</volume>(<issue>7</issue>):<fpage>1107</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>15</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1093/ibd/izaa258</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">32978937</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B22"><label>22.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Lichtenstein</surname> <given-names>GR</given-names></name> <name><surname>Bressler</surname> <given-names>B</given-names></name> <name><surname>Francisconi</surname> <given-names>C</given-names></name> <name><surname>Vermeire</surname> <given-names>S</given-names></name> <name><surname>Lawendy</surname> <given-names>N</given-names></name> <name><surname>Salese</surname> <given-names>L</given-names></name><etal/></person-group> <article-title>Assessment of safety and efficacy of tofacitinib, stratified by age, in patients from the ulcerative colitis clinical program</article-title>. <source>Inflamm Bowel Dis</source>. (<year>2023</year>) <volume>29</volume>(<issue>1</issue>):<fpage>27</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>41</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1093/ibd/izac084</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">36342120</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B23"><label>23.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Nash</surname> <given-names>P</given-names></name> <name><surname>Kerschbaumer</surname> <given-names>A</given-names></name> <name><surname>D&#x00F6;rner</surname> <given-names>T</given-names></name> <name><surname>Dougados</surname> <given-names>M</given-names></name> <name><surname>Fleischmann</surname> <given-names>RM</given-names></name> <name><surname>Geissler</surname> <given-names>K</given-names></name><etal/></person-group> <article-title>Points to consider for the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases with Janus kinase inhibitors: a consensus statement</article-title>. <source>Ann Rheum Dis</source>. (<year>2021</year>) <volume>80</volume>(<issue>1</issue>):<fpage>71</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>87</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-218398</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">33158881</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B24"><label>24.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Pathmakanthan</surname> <given-names>S</given-names></name> <name><surname>Stack</surname> <given-names>WA.</given-names></name></person-group> <article-title>Novel treatments in inflammatory bowel disease</article-title>. <source>Hosp Med</source>. (<year>1999</year>) <volume>60</volume>(<issue>1</issue>):<fpage>19</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>23</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.12968/hosp.1999.60.1.1019</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">10197093</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="B25"><label>25.</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Kakiuchi</surname> <given-names>T</given-names></name> <name><surname>Yoshiura</surname> <given-names>M.</given-names></name></person-group> <article-title>Japanese Pediatric patient with refractory steroid-resistant ulcerative colitis successfully treated with tofacitinib: a case report</article-title>. <source>Medicine (Baltimore)</source>. (<year>2022</year>) <volume>101</volume>(<issue>45</issue>):<fpage>e31757</fpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1097/MD.0000000000031757</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">36397383</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref></ref-list>
<fn-group>
<fn id="n1" fn-type="custom" custom-type="edited-by"><p>Edited by: <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/785245/overview">Jan De Laffolie</ext-link>, University of Giessen, Germany</p></fn>
<fn id="n2" fn-type="custom" custom-type="reviewed-by"><p>Reviewed by: <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/2088622/overview">Dragana Lazarevic</ext-link>, University Clinical Center Nis, Serbia</p>
<p><ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/3082926/overview">Kenneth Ernest-Suarez</ext-link>, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica</p></fn>
</fn-group>
</back>
</article>