anakinra + dexamethasone

Anakinra + dexamethasone is a combination therapy consisting of anakinra, a recombinant human interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist, and dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid corticosteroid. Anakinra competitively inhibits the binding of IL-1α and IL-1β to the interleukin-1 type I receptor, thereby reducing inflammation mediated by these cytokines. Dexamethasone acts as an agonist at the glucocorticoid receptor, suppressing multiple inflammatory pathways including cytokine production and immune cell activation. The combination has been used in clinical settings for conditions characterized by severe systemic inflammation or hyperinflammation such as secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), chemotherapy-induced mucositis, and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) following CAR T-cell therapy. The rationale for combining these agents is their complementary mechanisms in suppressing pro-inflammatory signaling—anakinra targeting IL-1–mediated pathways and dexamethasone providing broad immunosuppression[1][2][8].