Genetic markers may predict response to DMARDs
Patients with early rheumatoid arthritis who are likely to benefit from treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may be identified by genetic tests, new research suggests.
By analysing genetic and clinical data from 457 subjects taking part
in a previous trial comparing methotrexate and etanercept, US researchers
have found variations in two particular gene regions that are associated
with response to the drugs.
They found that patients who had two copies of a particular allele (HLA-DRB1)
encoding the shared epitope were three to four times more likely to achieve
50 per cent improvement in disease activity after 12 months treatment
with etanercept compared with methotrexate than patients with one or
no copies of the alleles.
The researchers also found that patients who had specific HLA genes in
addition to particular genetic variations in the tumour necrosis factor
gene region had better responses to both drugs (Arthritis and Rheumatism 2004;50:2750). |
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