Background: An autoimmune disease is one in which the immune system attacks a person's own body. Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease. It often involves multiple systems and organs of the body. Researchers are trying to find new, more effective and safe treatments for SS. Objective: To evaluate the safety and tolerance of tofacitinib in people with SS. Eligibility: Adults ages 18-75 with SS. Design: Participants will be screened on a separate protocol. They will undergo: * Medical and dental history * Physical exam * Medicine review * Electrocardiogram to test the heart s electrical activity (Participants will lay on a table. Sticky pads will be placed on their body.) * Eye exam and test for dry eyes * Oral, head, and neck exams * Plaque collection (Dental plaques and tongue and mucosal scrapings will be collected using a small tongue depressor.) * Salivary gland ultrasound * Blood and urine tests * Minor salivary gland biopsy (The lower lip will be numbed. Several tiny salivary glands will be removed through a small incision.) * Saliva collection * Disease assessment. Participants will repeat some of the screening tests during the study. Participants will take capsules of the study drug or a placebo by mouth for 168 days. Participants will have tests to measure blood pressure and the speed of blood flow through the organs. They will also have a test that examines the function and reaction of the blood vessels. For these tests, they will wear blood pressure cuffs and other sensors. Participants will complete questionnaires about their health. Participants will have 9 study visits over 28 weeks. They may be contacted by phone between study visits.
Study Description: As a primary objective, this study represents an innovative investigative measure of the safety and tolerability of JAK inhibition in participants with primary Sjogren's syndrome. Secondary objectives will include investigating the effects of Tofacitinib on target tissues (e.g., salivary glands), systemic inflammation, and on vascular function in SS participants. We also aim to identify biomarkers of response that may be useful as endpoints in future studies. Objectives: Primary Objective: -To determine the safety and tolerability of Tofacitinib in participants with SS and mild to moderate disease activity. Secondary Objectives: * To assess clinical improvement after treatment with Tofacitinib as measured by changes in the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Sjogren's syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) and no worsening on the Physician s Global assessment Scale (PGA). * To demonstrate that treatment with Tofacitinib is effective clinically and biologically in SS individuals with mild to moderate disease. * To investigate the effects of Tofacitinib on systemic biomarkers of SS as measures biological effects that can be used as outcome measures to power a larger Clinical Trial. Endpoints: Primary Endpoint: -Safety and tolerability will be measured by assessment of adverse events (AEs) and clinical safety laboratory tests throughout the study. Toxicity is defined as any study drug-related Grade 3 adverse event or higher (as measured by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), Version 5.0). Secondary Endpoints: Preliminary assessments of clinical response will be measured by: * Changes in the ESSDAI score between Baseline and Day 168 (end of treatment) * Changes in the Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) scores between baseline and study day 168.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
23
XELJANZ(R) is the citrate salt of tofacitinib. Tofacitinib citrate is a white to off-white powder. XELJANZ(R) is supplied for oral administration as 5 mg tofacitinib (equivalent to 8 mg tofacitinib citrate) white round, immediate-release film-coated tablet.
white, round, film-coated tablet
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Number of Adverse Events by Grade/Category
Count of adverse events by grade was assessed using the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), Version 5.0. Grade 1: Mild; asymptomatic or mild symptoms; clinical or diagnostic observations only; intervention not indicated. Grade 2: Moderate; minimal, local or noninvasive intervention indicated; limiting age appropriate instrumental ADL. Grade 3: Severe or medically significant but not immediately life-threatening; hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization indicated; disabling; limiting self care ADL. Grade 4: Life-threatening consequences; urgent intervention indicated. Grade 5: Death related to adverse event. Serious is defined as any grade 3 or higher adverse event. Toxicity is defined as any study drug-related Grade 3 or higher adverse event.
Time frame: Up to day 196
Participants With Adverse Events
Number participants with any adverse events by grade and severity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), Version 5.0. Grade 1 Mild; asymptomatic or mild symptoms; clinical or diagnostic observations only; intervention not indicated. Grade 2 Moderate; minimal, local or noninvasive intervention indicated; limiting age appropriate instrumental activity of daily living (ADL). Grade 3 Severe or medically significant but not immediately life-threatening; hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization indicated; disabling; limiting self care ADL. Grade 4 Life-threatening consequences; urgent intervention indicated. Grade 5 Death related to adverse event. Serious is defined as any grade 3 or higher adverse event. Toxicity is defined as any study drug-related Grade 3 or higher adverse event.
Time frame: Up to day 196
Change in Physicians Global Assessment (PGA) Score
The Physician Global Activity (PGA) is a subjective physician reported disease activity index that uses a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to score a patient's disease activity. The 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS) was scored by a physician with a vertical line on the scale marking disease activity where 0 cm indicates no evidence of disease activity, and 10 cm indicates severe disease activity, with score reported on a scale from 0-10. Higher score indicates more disease activity. Change in disease activity index was measured as the mean difference in disease activity scores between time points. Data was analyzed as the change in score between day 1 (baseline) and study day 168 (Change = day 168 - day 1) for the treatment/placebo groups as repeated measures.
Time frame: Day 168 minus day 1
Change in EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) Score
The EULAR Sjögren's syndrome (SS) disease activity index (ESSDAI) is a systemic disease activity index designed to measure disease activity in patients with primary SS. It includes 12 organ domains (e.g., constitutional, glandular, neurological) for disease activity, each with a 4-point scale (0 = No activity; 3=High activity). These scores are then multiplied by domain-specific weights (1-6) and summed to produce a total score ranging from 0 to 123, with higher scores indicating greater disease activity. Data was analyzed as the change in score between day 1 (baseline) and study day 168 (Change = day 168 - day 1) for the treatment/placebo groups as repeated measures.
Time frame: Day 168 minus day 1
Change in Whole Unstimulated Saliva Flow
Changes in salivary flow was assessed by measuring whole unstimulated saliva flow (WUS) and glandular parotid and submandibular/sublingual unstimulated and 0.2% citric acid stimulated flow rates using ultrasonograph. Validated scoring criteria was used to assess ultrasonographic feature parameters at baseline and at the study day 168. Data was analyzed as the change in score between day 1 (baseline) and study day 168 (Change = day 168 - day 1) for the treatment/placebo groups as repeated measures.
Time frame: Day 168 minus day 1
Change in Whole Stimulated Saliva Flow
Changes in salivary flow was assessed by measuring whole stimulated saliva flow and glandular parotid and submandibular/sublingual stimulated and 0.2% citric acid stimulated flow rates using ultrasonograph. Validated scoring criteria was used to assess ultrasonographic feature parameters at baseline and at the study day 168. Data was analyzed as the change in score between day 1 (baseline) and study day 168 (Change = day 168 - day 1) for the treatment/placebo groups as repeated measures.
Time frame: Day 168 minus day 1
Change in EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI)
The EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI) is a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) that focuses on the subjective experience of symptoms in SS. The tool assesses the key symptoms of dryness, pain and fatigue. A single 0-10 numerical scale is used to assess each of these symptoms. Final score is the average of the scores from the three domains. A final ESSPRI score of less than 5 is considered indicative of acceptable disease status, while a score of 5 or higher suggests high disease activity. Questionnaire was completed at baseline and day 168. Data was analyzed as
Time frame: Day 168 minus day 1
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