Anakinra in the Treatment of AS: The Latest Study Results
2/11/2005
A study published in the February 2005 edition of the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, "Open label trial of anakinra in active ankylosing spondylitis over 24 weeks" found that the drug anakinra (kineret) only improved spinal symptoms in a small subgroup of patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.
These results are in contrast to a UK study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases in 2004 that showed marked improvements in AS patients overall when taking the drug.
The latest study, done in Berlin, gave 20 patients daily injections of the drug over 24 weeks. NSAIDs did not work for any of the patients during previous treatment. Multiple clinical assessments were made to examine the progress of the patients during treatment including MRIs of the sacroiliac joints or spine as well as BASDAI and BASFI scores.
Although the drug was well tolerated in the study, the results were not as conclusive as those found in the UK study. Thus, as the search for newer and more effective medications for AS and related diseases continues, it is suffice to say that more trials on anakinra's effectiveness on AS are necessary.
About Anakinra
Kineret or anakinra is an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist manufactured by Amgen, Inc. It 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 (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) 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.