Kineret Uses

For people who have not responded well to other rheumatoid arthritis medications, Kineret can be used. At this time, it is not approved for use in children. Occasionally, healthcare providers may recommend the drug for treating other conditions. Some of these "off-label" uses for Kineret may include the treatment of uveitis and neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disease.

 

What Is Kineret Used For?

Kineret® (anakinra) is a prescription medication that is approved for treating rheumatoid arthritis. It is part of a group of medications known as biological response modifiers.
 
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. This means that, for some reason, the immune system mistakes a person's own cells as invaders and attacks them, causing damage. Similar to other autoimmune diseases, scientists still do not know the causes of rheumatoid arthritis.
 
There are many rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, including chronic pain, along with tender, warm, and swollen joints. Treatment for the condition usually includes medications. There are four different types of rheumatoid arthritis medication, including:
 
  • Analgesics (pain relievers), including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Corticosteroids
  • Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
  • Biological response modifiers.
     
Kineret is a biological response modifier, which means it targets (and "modifies") specific parts of the immune system. Biological response modifiers are commonly used to treat:
 
 
Kineret is approved for use in people who have unsuccessfully tried one or more DMARDs or biological response modifiers.
 
It can be used in combination with other rheumatoid medications, except adalimumab (Humira®), etanercept (Enbrel®), or infliximab (Remicade®). Taking Kineret with those medications increases the risk of infection and does not seem to provide any additional benefit.
 
(Kineret Uses Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;