Anakinra for Treating AS
6/9/2004
A recent study done in the UK has shown that anakinra, an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, has shown promise in treating patients with AS.
A 3-month study was performed in 9 patients with active AS who had failed responding to at least one NSAID. Each patient was given one 100mg injection of anakinra each day. The study assessed patient's progress by using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and the AS Quality Of Life (ASQoL) both pre and post therapy. MRIs of the spine and sacroiliac joints were also performed to determine the effect of the anakinra therapy.
The results of the study showed marked improvements in patient scores in the aforementioned indices as well as improvements in the MRI results. Thus, the study suggests that anakinra is effective in controlling the clinical manifestations of AS.
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About Anakinra
Kineret or anakinra is an injectable therapy approved by the FDA for treatments of signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients who have failed one or more DMARDs and who are over the age of 18. The drug is administered once daily through subcutaneous (under the skin) injection. Possible side effects include: redness, swelling, bruising or pain at the site of injection, headache, upset stomach, diarrhea, runny nose or stomach pain. More serious, yet uncommon, side effects include: rash, flu-like symptoms, fever, sore throat, chills, and other signs of infection; coughing, wheezing or chest pain; hot, red, swollen area on the skin.
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References: Ai Lyn Tan, Helena Marzo-Ortega, Philip O'Connor, Alexander Fraser, Paul Emery, Dennis G McGonagle. Efficacy of Anakinra in Active Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Clinical and Magnetic Imaging Study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2004;10.1136/ard.2004.020800; Arthritis-Symptoms.com. Kineret or anakinra; Rheumatology News. Anakinra Shows Promise for AS;