The effect of anakinra on retinal function in isolated perfused vertebrate retina

Purpose blockage of the interleukin 1 (il-1) signaling pathway has been proposed for treatment of inflammatory disorders like those affecting the retina and its adjacent tissue. herein,we evaluated one of those inhibitory drugs,anakinra (kineret®),based on its safety profile with emphasis on retinal function from an electrophysiological point of view. methods bovine retina preparations were perfused with two different concentrations of anakinra (1 mg/ml and 2 mg/ml). an electroretinogram (erg) was recorded and b-wave recovery assessed. results exposure to anakinra at a concentration of 1 mg/ml did not decrease the b-wave amplitude,whereas 2 mg/ml resulted in a significant reduction. conclusions based on these preliminary results,anakinra at a dose as low as 1 mg/ml could be regarded as safe for retinal function. however,dosages of 2 mg/ml and more do have toxic electrophysiological effects,at least for the short-term. © 2016 iranian society of ophthalmology