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Background: Several studies have demonstrated that Venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk is increased in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) [1-3]. In addition, the EMA, in 2023, published guidance to minimize risk of serious side-effects, including VTE, for patients on JAK inhibitors (JAKi) for chronic inflammatory diseases. This retrospective longitudinal data set provide valuables insight into the incidence of VTE in our patients exposed to JAKi. We have a local patient population with a high rate of smoking and obesity. In Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust Rheumatology department, we have a sizable proportion of patients on JAKi. We have approximately; 100 patients on Upadacitinib, 100 on Baricitinib and 60 on Filgotinib with only a small number of patients (<10) on Tofacitinib.
Objectives: The objective was to scrutinise a longitudinal dataset over a 6.5 year period to evaluate the incidence of VTE in patients who were known to the Rheumatology department. More specifically of interest, was to establish whether any patients with a VTE event had been exposed to JAKi therapy at any stage. These data would provide important insights into whether our patients on JAKi were encountering significant incidences of VTE. This information can, in turn, influence prescribing choices and facilitate optimal patient care.
Methods: We evaluated the VTE service results data from April 2018 to October 2024 at a single large NHS Hospital; Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, UK. From the list of patients with a positive VTE event known to rheumatology, the hospital-based patient electronic record was reviewed to establish if the patients had been exposed to any JAKi therapy, at any stage.
Results: From April 2018 to October 2024, there were a total of 731 VTE events recorded. Of these, 2.87% (21 patients) were known to our Rheumatology department. These patients were either currently under the care of the rheumatology department or had previously been. To the best of our knowledge, of the 21 patients known to Rheumatology with a VTE event, none had been exposed to any JAKi treatment.
Conclusion: This longitudinal dataset demonstrates further real-world reassurance about JAKi use and VTE incidence in Rheumatology patients. Despite having a local population with high rates of obesity, smoking and other co-morbidities, we can demonstrate that JAKi may be used in these patient populations without any incidence of VTE. The reasons for this are likely to be multifactorial and may include; addressing traditional risk factors for VTE and optimized patient selection, facilitated by additional screening measures (such as use of VTE risk assessment questionnaire).
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Acknowledgements: NIL.
Disclosure of Interests: Gurdeep Dulay I have received honoraria from: Educational grants/sponsorship funding from: Abbvie, Roche/Chugai, Pfizer, UCB, Sandoz, Lilly, Internis. Speaker fees from: Abbvie, Roche/Chugai, Amgen, Lilly, Sandoz, Thornton Ross/Internis, UCB, Galapagos, Medac Pharma, Alfasigma/Galapagos. Colin Beevor: None declared, Leslie Goh: None declared.
© The Authors 2025. This abstract is an open access article published in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases under the CC BY-NC-ND license (