Anakinra acts as a receptor antagonist for interleukin-1, which is a key mediator of inflammation. In combination with methotrexate, the substance is authorized for use in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, was also used successfully in the treatment of Still disease in adults.
In pediatric patients, anakinra has its place in therapy of systemic forms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. It is also effective in the treatment of other, relatively rare autoinflamatorních diseases characterized by uncontrolled outbursts of inflammation, usually with no clear underlying cause.
Among the diseases are monogenic autoinflamatorní familial periodic fever and kryopyrinopatie. With knowledge of the pathogenesis of inflammation, however autoinflamatorních disease spectrum extends to various other diseases in which inflammation contributes to the development of clinical symptoms - currently being tested in clinical studies with interleukin-1 blockade with 2 DM and type of days.