Why reducing the risk of recurrence matters for patients
DISEASE PREVALENCE
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
~160,000
pericarditis
~120,000
Pericarditis
~40,000
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