Puberty and pregnancy outcomes following systemic JAK inhibitor exposure in pediatric patients
University of Toronto
Hospital for Sick Children
University of Toronto
Overview:
Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) are medications increasingly used to treat autoimmune diseases in children, such as lupus, juvenile arthritis, and juvenile dermatomyositis. While these drugs can be very effective, little is known about how they may affect future reproductive health. This is an important concern for families when making treatment decisions. This study will use a large North American registry to compare females who were treated with JAKi throughout childhood to those who were not to look at pubertal development (such as age at first period), as well as reproductive outcomes later in life, including the ability to become pregnant and pregnancy outcomes (e.g. miscarriage or live birth). This will be the first large-scale study to help determine whether exposure to JAKi throughout childhood has impacts on pubertal development, fertility, and pregnancy. The findings will provide important information to guide doctors and families in making informed treatment decisions.
Status:
This was funded through a 2026 PeDRA Emerging Investigator Research Grant.