Animal study of the cardiovascular effects of tofacitinib: Hemodynamic, biochemical, vascular, and mortality outcomes

Tofacitinib has raised cardiovascular safety concerns despite its proven therapeutic value in inflammatory diseases. This study evaluated its preclinical cardiovascular effects in a mouse model after 28 days of treatment with three different doses. Tofacitinib induced dose-dependent reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, with significant effects evident by day 14 and more pronounced by day 28. Heart rate showed only minor, non-significant fluctuations, while serum creatine kinase and creatine kinase-MB decreased. Body weight gain was inhibited in treated animals, and mortality occurred only in the low- and medium-dose groups. The cardiac troponin I assay showed negative results in the control and tofacitinib-treated groups, and an increase in isolated rat basilar artery tone was induced by tofacitinib. Overall, tofacitinib produced measurable cardiovascular and systemic effects, supporting the need for further mechanistic studies and careful cardiovascular risk assessment.