The Efficacy Of Anakinra To Combat Arthritis

Anakinra is a drug indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis that does not respond to methotrexate treatment. It is also used in combination with this drug. It owes its effectiveness to the ability to block inflammation and cartilage breakdown.

Anakinra is not considered a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), but rather a biological response modifier (BRM). That it belongs to this second classification is because it is capable of selectively attacking the pathological element of the disease.

To better know and understand the mechanism by which anakinra is effective against this disease, we must first have a basic idea of ​​what arthritis is.

How does arthritis develop?

Arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by persistent inflammation in the joints. It usually affects the small joints, such as the hands and feet.

It produces progressive destruction and generates different degrees of deformity and functional disability. Apart from inflammation, it causes pain, stiffness and loss of joint function.

Although the exact cause is not known, it is known that autoimmunity is essential for the development, origin and progression of arthritis. This means that the disease is the result of an attack by our immune system on the tissues of the body.

This process is associated with the presence of autoantibodies, which are proteins developed by the immune system that act directly on our own body. It usually begins in middle age but is more common in older adults. It can also affect other parts of the body besides the joints, such as the eyes, mouth, and lungs.

Now we will see in more detail the following sections on anakinra:

• Mechanism of action.
• Pharmacokinetics.
• Adverse reactions.

Mechanism of action

Anakinra is an interleukin receptor 1α and 1β (IL-1) antagonist. It competitively inhibits the binding of interleukin-1 to its receptor, which is expressed in a wide variety of tissues and organs.

IL-1 is produced in response to inflammatory stimuli and mediates different physiological responses. Among them are inflammatory and immunological reactions. This protein also stimulates bone resorption and causes tissue damage such as cartilage degradation, which is why it is effective in rheumatoid arthritis.

Anakinra Pharmacokinetics

Anakinra is a drug administered subcutaneously  (always at the same time to avoid accumulation). It has good absorption. It has an elimination half-life of approximately 4 to 6 hours.

It is mainly excreted via the urinary tract. It should be noted that this may vary depending on the creatinine clearance and body weight of the patient. Creatinine is a waste product from the body that is filtered by the liver and then excreted in the urine. Measuring its clearance is a very common process to check kidney function in patients.

In those where this value is increased, like body weight, the clearance of anakinra will also be greater. Clearance is the amount of plasma that the liver can clear per unit of time.

After administering a 70 mg dose, it has a bioavailability of 95% and the maximum concentrations in plasma, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, appear between 3 and 7 hours after the administration of a dose of 1-2 mg / kg. of drug.

Adverse reactions

The most frequent adverse reaction of this medicine  occurs in the place where the corresponding dose has been injected. This reaction appears in almost all patients treated with anakinra.

Apart from this symptom, there are other typical adverse reactions to this drug. First of all, mention the gastrointestinal discomfort that it can produce, such as nausea, diarrhea or abdominal pain.

On the other hand, it may trigger allergic reactions, and the use of anakinra is prohibited in patients who are hypersensitive to the drug. Cases have also been seen in which patients have suffered from neurological problems.

An important adverse reaction is the hematological problems (affects the blood cells) that it can cause. Other effects of anakinra are: sinusitis, urinary tract infection and flu symptoms.