Relationship Between Janus Kinase Inhibitor Use and Development of Retinal Vein Occlusion

Janus kinase (Jak) inhibitors may have increased risk of thromboembolism compared to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. This study investigates the association between Jak inhibitor use and retinal vein occlusion.

This retrospective, non-randomized cohort study used a federated health research network. Propensity-score matched risk ratios with 95% CI were calculated for central and branch retinal vein occlusion (CRVO, BRVO) in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) treated with Jak inhibitors versus TNF inhibitors.

Jak and TNF inhibitor cohorts each had 5,249 patients. Risk ratio for CRVO with Jak inhibitors (n = 11) versus TNF inhibitors (n = 18) was 0.61 [CI (0.29,1.29)]. Risk ratio for BRVO with Jak inhibitors (n = 17) compared to TNF inhibitors (n = 19) was 0.89 [CI (0.47,1.72)].

This study did not find evidence of increased risk of RVO with the use of Jak inhibitors compared to TNF inhibitors among patients with IMIDs, contributing to literature on Jak inhibitor safety. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2025;56:72-78.].