A Joint Endeavor: Methotrexate vs. JAK Inhibitors for Joint Inflammation Reduction in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Authors

Madeleine Kennedy, University of North Dakota

Files

Document Type

Poster

Description

This paper investigates the comparative efficacy of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors versus methotrexate (MTX) in reducing joint inflammation in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study addresses the critical research question: In adult patients with RA, does treatment with JAK inhibitors or methotrexate demonstrate superior efficacy in reducing joint inflammation? A literature review was conducted analyzing various clinical trials, including phase II and III studies, that evaluated the effectiveness of JAK inhibitors, both as monotherapy and in combination with MTX. The findings indicate that JAK inhibitors, particularly tofacitinib and baricitinib, consistently show superior or equivalent efficacy in achieving American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response rates and low disease activity scores compared to MTX, especially in patients with inadequate responses to traditional therapies. This literature review concludes that JAK inhibitors represent a promising alternative for RA management, particularly for patients intolerant to MTX, and highlights the need for further research to explore their long-term efficacy and safety in diverse patient populations.

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

Degree Name

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Date of Work

2025

Publication Date

Spring 5-2025

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Recommended Citation

Kennedy, Madeleine, "A Joint Endeavor: Methotrexate vs. JAK Inhibitors for Joint Inflammation Reduction in Rheumatoid Arthritis" (2025). Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters. 322.
https://commons.und.edu/pas-grad-posters/322