A clinical perspective of rheumatoid arthritis.
In recent years, factors potentially involved in pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis have mostly been identified by studying well-defined patient cohorts. Characterization of antibodies from sera of affected patients, family-based heritability studies, genome-wide association scans, the analysis of environmental factors and data from clinical trials have contributed largely to a thorough reassembly of our perception of rheumatoid arthritis. Modified animal models are now crucial to obtain experimental evidence for suggested pathogenetic pathways based on these observations and are currently being developed and explored. Some of the novel pathogenetic aspects, however, already influence decision making in the clinic.
Scherer
Hans Ulrich
HU
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Germany. ulrich.scherer@charite.de
Burmester
Gerd R
GR
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000068800:Etanercept; D005192:Family Health; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008954:Models, Biological; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C502936:tocilizumab; D000068800:Etanercept