Impact of Tofacitinib on Peripheral Lymphocyte Subpopulations in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Concomitant Interstitial Lung Disease

ZHANG Lu; DONG Fengjiao; WANG Mengmeng

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-437X.2025.13.005

Abstract：Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of tofacitinib in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)with concomitant interstitial lung disease(ILD),and its impact on peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations.Methods A total of 120 patients diagnosed with RA-ILD at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from March 2022 to March 2023 were selected as study subjects.They were divided into a control group(60 patients)and an observation group(60 patients)in treatment options.Both groups received methylprednisolone treatment,with the observation group additionally receiving tofacitinib.Clinical efficacy,laboratory indicators,pulmonary function parameters,peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations,and the occurrence of adverse reactions were recorded and compared before treatment and three months after treatment.Results Post-treatment,clinical symptoms were alleviated in both groups.In the observation group,post-treatment levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),C-reactive protein(CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),D-dimer(D-D),rheumatoid factor(RF),and krebs von den lungen-6(KL-6)were lower than in the control group.Vital capacity(VC),total lung capacity(TLC),forced vital capacity(FVC),and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide(DLco)improved in the observation group post-treatment and were higher than in the control group.Levels of CD4+,CD4+/CD8+increased,and CD8+decreased in both groups after treatment.The levels of CD4+,CD4+/CD8+in the observation group were higher,and CD8+was lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Tofacitinib effectively improves laboratory markers and pulmonary function parameters in patients with RA-ILD,enhancing the immune function of peripheral lymphocytes.