Anakinra adverse effects

The most common adverse reactions to anakinra are redness, bruising, pain, and inflammation at the injection site. Neutropenia may occur, and the risk of serious infection is somewhat elevated, particularly in asthmatic patients. Antibodies to anakinra can develop with long-term therapy, but no correlation between antibody development and clinical response or adverse effects has been observed. 

Anakinra is an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist. It has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (1,2). It has been tried in graft-versus-host disease, but without success (3). According to published trial data, moderate injection site reactions were the primary adverse effect and required treatment withdrawal in under 5% of patients. An erythematous rash was seldom observed. Although a few patients have developed antibodies to anakinra, these have not so far been associated with lack of efficacy or allergic skin reactions. 

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, anakinra 150 mg given by daily subcutaneous injection had a response rate of 43% compared with 27% for placebo-treated patients. Less radiographic progression of joint damage was noted in those receiving anakinra. Injection-site reactions were the most common adverse effect noted. Infection risk and precautions are similar to those for the TNF inhibitors. " " ... 

In a study in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis taking etanercept and anakinra for up to 24 weeks, serious infections occurred in 7% of patients, compared with none in patients taking etanercept alone. Neutropenia occurred in 2% of patients taking both drugs. Infections are very coimnon adverse effects of treatment with etanercept but serious infections are reported to be uncoimnon (occurring in about 1% of etanercept- and placebo-treated groups in clinical studies). - Further, the combination of etanercept with anakinra has not increased clinical benefit and the manufacturers say that concurrent use is not recommended. ... 

Adverse Side Effects. Patients receiving anakinra may be more susceptible to bacterial infections and other infectious agents.70 This drug is administered via subcutaneous injection, and irritation at the injection site is fairly common, but is usually not severe. More serious systemic allergic reactions may occur in a small number of patients.70... 

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