People with
rheumatoid arthritis often have high levels of a certain protein called interleukin-1 (IL-1) in their joints. IL-1 causes inflammation, cartilage damage, and bone erosion.
Kineret is a synthetic form of a different naturally occurring protein in the body that inhibits the effects of IL-1. By binding to IL-1, Kineret can help reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid
arthritis, along with the physical damage to the joints.
Using Kineret in Children
Kineret is not approved for treating rheumatoid arthritis in children (often known as
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis). Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using the drug in children.
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend Kineret for treating something other than rheumatoid arthritis. Currently,
off-label Kineret uses include treatment of the following conditions:
- Neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID), a rare condition affecting newborns
- Uveitis (an eye condition).