Biomarkers: Strategies to predict outcome of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an aggressive autoimmune inflammatory disease, with a highly variable and generally unpredictable prognosis. Recent successful therapies have suggested that the course of RA might be modified. The ability to predict onset and prognosis of RA would enable therapy to be directed and initiated without unnecessary delay. Biomarkers for RA have until recently lacked specificity and sensitivity and hence their use has been limited. This article describes the increasing role of biomarkers in the management of RA.

Section editors:Claudine Bruck – GlaxoSmithKline, King of Prussia, USAMichel Goldman – University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium