Tofacitinib monotherapy and erectile dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot observational study

We aimed to explore the effect of tofacitinib on erectile dysfunction (ED), as well as disease activity and health related quality of life in male patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Forty eight male RA patients with ED were included. Demographic and clinical data at baseline and 6 month of treatment were recorded from patients’ medical records. Disease activity was evaluated with the disease activity score on 28 joints (DAS28), quality of life with Health Assessment Questionnaire—Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and ED with International Index of Erectile Function—5 (IIEF-5). The patients were aged 45.58 \(\pm\) 2.14 years with a disease duration of 79.33 \(\pm\) 25.31 months. According to the IIEF-5, 17 (35.4%) patients had severe ED, 10 (20.8%) patients moderate ED, 10 (20.8%) patients mild to moderate ED and 11 (22.9%) patients mild ED. For the entire patient group, baseline median IIEF-5 score was significantly increased from 9.35 (5.30–19.40) to 9.90 (5.20–24.90), baseline median DAS28 was significantly decreased from 5.65 (4.80–6.70) to 5.00 (2.40–6.40), HAQ-DI from 1.70 (1.10–2.40) to 1.15 (0.40–2.20) at 6th month of treatment (all p value < 0.001). Also, quantitative change in IIEF-5 was significantly correlated with changes in DAS28 (r: − 0.735, p < 0.001) and HAQ-DI (r: − 0.700, p < 0.001). Tofacitinib monotherapy may improve ED severity and as well as disease activity and health related quality of life in male patients with RA complaining of ED.