title: Durability and rapidity of response to anakinra in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and progressive inflammatory disease that ultimately leads to disability and functional decline. Because patients usually develop RA in mid-life, they may experience its consequences for 20-30 years or longer. Proinflammatory cytokines, notably interleukin (IL)-1 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha, are believed to play significant pathophysiological roles. Clinical trials of biologicals that block these cytokines confirm their importance.Anakinra, a recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist, improves clinical signs and symptoms, and slows radiographic progression in patients with active RA. In clinical trials, patients receiving anakinra doses >1 mg/kg, whether administered alone or in combination with methotrexate, were two to three times more likely than patients receiving placebo to achieve a sustained ACR20 (American College of Rheumatology criteria) response. Notably, bone erosion slows to a greater extent and shows accelerated benefit when anakinra treatment is continued for periods beyond 24 weeks. Anakinra has a rapid onset of action, with substantial improvements in biochemical indices (C-reactive protein) seen within 1 week and clinical responses (ACR20 or joint counts) seen within 4 weeks of starting treatment. Anakinra is generally well tolerated, with injection site reactions being the most common adverse event. These reactions are generally mild and typically resolve within 2-3 weeks of treatment. The anakinra product labelling does include a warning regarding an increased risk of infections of 2% in anakinra-treated patients versus <1% in patients receiving placebo.
authors.affiliation: Denver Arthritis Clinic Research Unit, Denver, Colorado 80230, USA. mschiff@denverarthritisclinic.com
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Schiff
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D008727:Methotrexate