Personalized medicine in rheumatology.
In the era of the 21stcentury, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is still poorly characterized. Rheumatoid arthritis is a common but heterogeneous disease, not only in the course and clinical symptoms, but also in the clinical response to treatment. Now it is known that early, correct diagnosis and starting treatment with disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs), of which methotrexate (MTX) remains the gold standard in the treatment of RA, is crucial in order to prevent joint destruction, functional disability and an unfavourable disease outcome. Early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is significant in so much as the primary treatment can be started better. Pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic studies, which help determine the genetic profile of individual patients, may bring us closer to personalized medicine. Further studies on RA should allow for the identification of disease-specific genes at the stage when their tolerance by the organism is still preserved (before auto-aggression develops).
Department of Gerontology and Public Health, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Warsaw, Poland.
Anna
A
Kłak
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Warsaw, Poland.
Agnieszka
A
Paradowska-Gorycka
Clinic of Early Arthritis, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Warsaw, Poland.
Brygida
B
Kwiatkowska
Department of Gerontology and Public Health, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Warsaw, Poland.
Filip
F
Raciborski
biomarkers; genetic test; personalized medicine; rheumatoid arthritis