title: Biomarkers in spondyloarthropathies.
abstract: The study of biomarkers in spondyloarthropathy (SpA) has emerged to be a very important field of research. This is particularly because the two commonly used biomarkers, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), are of very low sensitivity and specificity. The second reason is, with advances in the treatment of SpA by the very expensive tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) blockers, for cost-effectiveness, clinicians need to be much more accurate in predicting disease progression, evaluating disease activity and monitoring therapeutic efficacy. This review focuses on several biomarkers of promise: matrix metalloproteinases 3 (MMP-3), Type II collagen neoepitope (C2C and C1-2C), C-propeptide of Type II collagen (CPII), aggrecan 846 epitope, macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), serum amyloid A (SAA) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6). The results summarized in Table 1 call for a co-ordinated effort for systematic studies of existing biomarkers and for search for new candidates.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Hsiung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: David Tak Yan
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chung-Tei
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D025242:Spondylarthropathies / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3