Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group IL-17A Antibody in Spine Disease

New research has confirmed Interleukin 17A (a proinflammatory cytokine) plays a major role n the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis.

First-ever non-TNF drug called secukinumab completely blocks inflamation in AS and brings relief within a week.

It can be taken long-term with no major side effects reported so far.

The cost is astronomical, a single injection costs three to four times the price of Humira.

Blockade of Interleukin 17 has been shown to speed recovery in people with stroke, stop skin cancer and asthma.

Pharma ompanies are preparing to rake in millions of dollars from the new drug.

Article below is must see:

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ACR/48686

That's insane 3 to 4 times more than humira. Wow

Yes - had posted on this in the drugs forum some several weeks ago. My dermatologist told me about this drug. There is more information now, so great you picked up on it. Have you read on the side effects ? Well, no way for me to take ! Can cause urticaria, skin rash, diarrhoea, exacerbation of Crohn's disease, pharangitis etc etc. Is also associated with the drug Soriatane, treatment for skin probs, which caused terrible side effects for me. So. Not for me. Sigh.

http://www.rxlist.com/cosentyx-side-effects-drug-center.htm

It has only had a year in trial so goodness knows what might not be revealed post marketing...

PS With Soriatine, one goes hirsute on the body but the hair on yr head dries up and falls out - lubly, NOT !

Thanks for the link most common side effect is nasopharyngitis which is not that bad compared with the disease itself.

The big issue with secukinumab is that 60% of AS patients have subclinical gut inflammation. My rheumatologist is worried that this drug might unmask that underlying inflammation.

"...subclinical gut inflammation"

As happened with me with the Soriatane. Was very ill with the Soriatane - and lost 14 lbs in weight. Didn't mind loosing the weight, though my clothes were somewhat loose on me ! Have put back 7 of the lost pounds, and the gut is still healing - Soriatane is associated with Secukinumab.

And here's another with the same unmasking latogenic effect -

Anti-TNFα Treatments and Mycosis Fungoides
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjd.13705/abstract;jsessionid=5FCD4C16D9FDB8FEAF4FD9AACD72DAA0.f01t02

Mycosis Fungoides (MF) is the most frequent cutaneous T-cell lymphoma but its etiology remains largely unknown. Typically, it presents as erythematous patches or plaques located mainly on sun protected areas, progressing to indurated plaques, tumors or erythroderma. During early stages, diagnosis may be difficult, given the considerable overlap with common inflammatory dermatoses, such as eczema or psoriasis. 1



My eldest died last Sept from Mycosis Fungoides. An inept GP was treating him for psoriasis, did not refer him; turned out his skin problem was MF. Good medicine, what Gggggrrrr.

Check those medications for their side effects.

Ho-Hum - This has just come in, Secukinumab refers :-

http://www.practiceupdate.com/

"Safety was reasonable in the secukinumab trials. No deaths occurred, but there were more serious adverse events and discontinuations in the active treatment group. Nasopharyngitis was the most common serious adverse events, and it occurred in all groups. Upper respiratory tract infections appeared to be more common in the secukinumab patients, he noted".

If I may ask how long of taking the tnf inhibitors did his MF show up? I ask cause Ive been taking enbrel for about 4 months and I have this rash on my arm that won't go away and I'm kinda getting freaked out.

Also what medicines protocols supplements etc. do you take to treat your AS?

JV - Unable to answer your first question. I don't know how long it would take... And. as everyone is different, for MF to show up in one person it could be 'a' length of time but for another it might be a totally different length of time.

As for my brother, he was not on an anti-tnf drug - he had been treated for psoriasis with various creams and emollients etc, but not with the tnf drugs.

For me to react so appallingly to Secukinumab it took about two months. To Azulfidine, about two weeks. To a fluoroquinolone, three days. To contrast radiology dyes, three months for one and five months for another... To Timolol glaucoma eye drops, four weeks. In fact, I am so highly reactive to drugs that I can hardly touch ANY drugs at all.

Because you have 'a' rash it does not mean that that rash is associated with the drugs you are on, and does not mean that your rash is MF. Your best way forward is to see your specialist AND be referred to a dermatologist. Take the whole worry out of the situation.

As for what I take, very very little. LDN, low dose Naltrexone, 3.5gms per night. Pain meds 'when' needed, but very rarely touch as would rather battle through, sans drugs. Vit-D3, Vit-K2, Boron, Magnesium, Ginkgo-Biloba and a handful of others, including curcuman. Some for AS, other some for no tension glaucoma, vascular dysregulation - plus, Monoprost preservative free, unidose for the glaucoma. I also follow the low starch diet. And do notice, that when I break into the starch, my whole back inflames. It's a good barometer for starch reactions !

If interested in alternatives, then suggest visiting the alternatives forum and consider the diet, starting with no starch. But if you are doing well with the anti-tnf, then get the rash checked out and never hesitate to take a consultation with any member of your specialist team.

Go well, take care -