A team of rheumatology specialists from the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV) and the Marqués de Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL) has participated in a national multicenter study demonstrating the efficacy of baricitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and associated pulmonary fibrosis.
The study, published in the scientific journal Rheumatology (Oxford) under the title “Baricitinib in rheumatoid arthritis with interstitial lung involvement: a national multicenter study of 72 patients and review of the literature,” is the largest conducted to date in this clinical context and reinforces the validity of using this drug in clinical practice.
Leadership from Valdecilla and IDIVAL
The study was led by the Rheumatology Department at HUMV and the IDIVAL Immunopathology group, with the participation of Dr. Ana Serrano, Dr. Belén Atienza, and Dr. Ricardo Blanco, head of the department. It also involved collaboration from more than 30 hospitals across Spain, consolidating Valdecilla as a national reference center (CSUR) for systemic autoimmune diseases with interstitial lung involvement.
Encouraging results
The research included 72 patients—a highly significant number considering this is a rare but impactful complication: pulmonary fibrosis can affect up to 30% of people with rheumatoid arthritis and represents one of the main causes of mortality associated with the disease.
After an average follow-up of 32 months, more than 70% of patients improved or stabilized their lung function without significant adverse effects. The drug also showed benefits in controlling joint symptoms, thus providing a dual clinical advantage.
A step forward for clinical practice
Until now, treatment options for this complication have been limited and yielded variable results. According to the researchers, this study provides a new therapeutic tool that broadens the options available for specialists and patients, contributing to better quality of life and healthcare in this disease.
The publication represents a new step in a line of research where Valdecilla has already made internationally recognized contributions, such as previous studies with abatacept, which have shifted the therapeutic approach in this field.
Next steps
The research group plans to expand the patient series and extend clinical follow-up, as well as to explore future therapeutic combinations with other immunomodulators and antifibrotic agents.
