Blog #10

In this blog, I am going to discuss the monoclonal antibody adalimumab, or more commonly known as humira. There are several monoclonal antibodies that are used clinically today and they have a wide variety of uses. This characteristic is largely attributed to the fact that a monoclonal antibody utilizes the mechanics of the natural immune system, which plays a role in all healing processes in the body. Monoclonal antibodies are simply man-made antibodies that have a similar effect in the body as natural antibodies would. These antibodies are programmed with genetic material that specifically combat proteins in the body that attack healthy “self” tissue. These antibodies are produced from cloned immune cells. Like natural antigens, these artificial antibodies only bind to one antigen. This is where the “mono” part of the term “monoclonal antibodies” comes from. These have been extremely helpful in the diagnosing of diseases and the construction of vaccines and treatments for different diseases.

Humira is a monoclonal antibody that is effective against several different diseases including rheumatiod arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, chron’s disease, and plaque psoriasis. The main function that this antibody performs is to inhibit the protein TNF alpha which play a role in the inflammatory process. The blocking of this protein results in the blocking of the inflammatory response. While inflammation is a needed part of the immune system, in diseases listed above inflammation causes pain, fever, and joint swelling. If inflammation continues it will cause damage to body tissues. Excess inflammation can lead to further damage the the initial infection was causing. Humira aids in controlling the inflammatory process and helps to prevent further tissue damage by binding to TNF alpha and inhibiting its action. With the reduction of inflammation, the reduction of its symptoms also follows. This allows the recipient to have lessened pain, swelling, and discomfort.

Like most drugs, there are several side effects to Humira:

• headache
• rash
• nausea
• stomach upset
• swelling, redness, pain or itching at site of injection
• hypersensitivity reactions
• reduced levels of platelets and red blood cells in the blood.

There are a few conditions that if a patient has these they should not be given Humira. These conditions include tuberculosis, sepsis, and fungal infections. If this drug is taken by a patient with a nervous system disease, the patient may see worsened symptoms and it is also associated with the development of cancer. However, the connection between Humira and cancer has not been fully researched or supported yet. Some patients have seen the reactivation of Hepatitis B after taking the drug as well. The reason why a patient should not take this drug if they have any of these conditions is because this drug is inhibiting the immune response, specifically the innate immune response of inflammation. As stated previously inflammation is a necessary part of the healing process, especially in the diseases listed above. Interference with the immune response to these diseases could lead to worsening of the disease that the patient already has and prevent the body from healing and fighting the infection.

I think that it is extremely important to become educated on the medicine a patient is given before they take it. There are so many things that I would not know without doing research that I would want to know.