REVIEW - Patient-tailored therapy in RA

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Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2010 Feb 19. [Epub ahead of print]

Patient-tailored therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: an editorial review.

Scherer HU, Dörner T, Burmester GR.

Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité -

University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The list of therapeutic targets for the treatment

of rheumatic diseases constantly grows. As a consequence, a growing

number of agents that are specifically directed against these targets

become clinically available. However, the more diverse (and expensive)

the armamentarium, the more its use should be guided by informed

decisions for an optimal treatment. Such personalized,

patient-tailored therapy is still not a reality in rheumatology

practice. However, several important steps have recently been made

towards achievement of this important goal.

RECENT FINDINGS: On the basis of the multifactorial nature of the

pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases, the quest for single biomarkers

that predict treatment response has proven difficult. Instead,

biomarker signatures derived from genetic and proteomic expression

studies using various biomaterials are being identified and

demonstrate predictive value. Research focus has so far been placed on

treatment responses to methotrexate and tumor necrosis factor

antagonists, but interesting findings are already available for other

agents as well.

SUMMARY: Although still in their infancy in rheumatology, personalized

treatment approaches offer the potential for improved safety and

efficacy for the patient and ultimately have promises to reduce

societal costs.

PMID: 20177384

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20177384

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