Why reducing the risk of recurrence matters for patients

DISEASE PREVALENCE
Up to
30%
of individuals with acute pericarditis will experience a recurrent episode within 18 months.1,2

Recurrent pericarditis is diagnosed when an index acute episode is followed by a symptom-free period of at least 4 to 6 weeks and then followed by a subsequent episode.1

A retrospective study of 944 patients with recurrent pericarditis from January 2007 to March 2017 found that the median duration of disease was approximately 6 months for those with 1 recurrence and approximately
3 years for those with ≥2 recurrences.3

All pericarditis
~160,000
Idiopathic
pericarditis
~120,000
Recurrent
Pericarditis
~40,000
Patients with
2+ recurrences
~14,000
 
 
 

*Nearly 50% turnover in this population annually with ~7000 patients coming in and out of the pool each year.2

UNDERLYING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Recurrent pericarditis is driven by an interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)-mediated autoinflammatory response.4

IL-1α and IL-1β are key cytokines that mediate the pathophysiology of many inflammatory processes and have been implicated as a causative factor in recurrent pericarditis.4

 

  • Recurrent pericarditis results from IL-1α– and IL-1β–mediated inflammation of the pericardial sac
  • IL-1α and IL-1β bind to the universally expressed cell surface receptor, IL-1 receptor type-1, triggering a cascade of inflammatory mediators and autoinflammation
  • Preformed IL-1α is released by damaged/inflamed pericardial cells; it may contribute to the maintenance and amplification of inflammation via activation of the NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, which then augments the inflammatory response by production of IL-1β in a cascade amplification system
THE RISK OF RECURRENCE

Patients continue to experience recurrences despite treatment with commonly prescribed therapies.4

NSAIDs, colchicine, and corticosteroids do not target specifically the IL-1–mediated cycle of autoinflammation.4,5

The first and only FDA-approved treatment for recurrent pericarditis, ARCALYST offers your patients a new treatment option. 

It is an IL-1 inhibitor that targets the underlying mechanism that drives inflammation. It can be used for the treatment of recurrent pericarditis and reduction in the risk of subsequent pericarditis episodes.6

See the clinical results