Is Anakinra Useful for Patients with Refractory, Recurrent Pericarditis?

Anakinra, an interleukin 1ß recombinant receptor antagonist with anti-inflammatory properties, is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. To assess its effectiveness for colchicine-resistant, corticosteroid-dependent recurrent pericarditis, researchers compared manufacturer-provided anakinra with placebo in 21 consecutive patients (mean age, 45) at one of three centers in Italy. The mean number of previous recurrences of pericarditis was 6.8 (minimum, 3).

The trial had two parts. In the first part, all participants received open-label subcutaneous anakinra (2 mg/kg daily) for 60 days. In the second part, participants who had sustained a complete response to anakinra in the first part of the trial were randomized, in double-blind fashion, to rece…