The Effectiveness, Safety, and Tolerability of Canakinumab in Managing Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Canakinumab represents a promising therapeutic option for the management of FMF, offering enhanced efficacy, favorable safety profile, and convenient dosing regimen compared to traditional therapies. However, continued research efforts are essential to elucidate its long-term efficacy, safety, and economic implications fully.Material and methods: Quantitative data synthesis was performed using meta-analysis techniques, where applicable, to estimate pooled effect sizes and assess heterogeneity across studies. For dichotomous outcomes (e.g., proportion of patients achieving ≥۵۰% reduction in FMF flares), pooled risk ratios (RR) or odds ratios (OR) with ۹۵% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effects models. For continuous outcomes (e.g., change in symptom scores), standardized mean differences (SMD) or weighted mean differences (WMD) were calculated.Results: Overall, Canakinumab exhibited a favorable safety profile in FMF patients, with most adverse events being mild to moderate in severity and transient in nature. Common adverse events reported across studies included injection site reactions, upper respiratory tract infections, and gastrointestinal disturbances. Importantly, the incidence of serious adverse events, including severe infections, was low and comparable to placebo.Conclusion: this systematic review provides robust evidence supporting the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of Canakinumab in managing Familial Mediterranean Fever. With its targeted mechanism of action and favorable clinical profile, Canakinumab represents a valuable therapeutic option for FMF patients, offering the potential for improved symptom control and enhanced quality of life.

Keywords:

Canakinumab , effectiveness , safety , Familial Mediterranean fever