Effect of canakinumab on clinical and biochemical parameters in acute gouty arthritis: a meta-analysis

Targeted anti-IL-1β therapy may be a valuable option for the management of gouty arthritis. The present meta-analysis has evaluated the effect of canakinumab, an anti-IL-1β monoclonal antibody in gouty arthritis.

A standard meta-analysis protocol was developed and after performing a comprehensive literature search in MEDLINE, Cochrane, and International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (ICTRP), reviewers assessed eligibility and extracted data from three relevant articles. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled effect size as the mean difference in Visual Analouge Scale (VAS) score, serum hsCRP, serum Amyloid A, and risk ratio for global assessment between the groups. Quality assessment was done using the risk of bias assessment tool and summary of findings was prepared using standard Cochrane methodology with GradePro GDT.

Treatment with canakinumab showed a mean reduction of VAS score by 14.59 mm [95% CI − 19.42 to − 9.77], serum hsCRP by 15.36 mg/L [95% CI 1.62–29.11], serum Amyloid A by 67.18 mg/L [95% CI 17.06–117.31], and improvement in patient global assessment (RR = 1.478; 95% CI 1.29–1.67) and physician global assessment (RR = 1.44; 95% CI 1.28–1.61). The probability that future studies may have a mean difference in VAS score less than zero has been calculated to be 27.3% using a cumulative distribution function (CDF) calculator.

This meta-analysis shows the beneficial effect of canakinumab over triamcinolone by reducing VAS score, serum hsCRP, serum amyloid A, and improvement in global assessments in acute gouty arthritis.