Gene Discoveries Could Help Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
Gene Discoveries Could Help Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, April 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Genetic variations may hold clues to rheumatoid arthritis -- suggesting not only who will develop the painful condition, but also predicting its severity and even who might die from it, a new study says.
"Genetic factors predisposing to disease, to disease severity, and response to treatment will allow tailoring treatment to individual patients' needs," said lead researcher Dr. Sebastien Viatte, a research fellow at the University of Manchester in England.
Using data from several sources on thousands of patients in the United Kingdom, researchers found that gene mutations at a location on a chromosome called HLA-DRBl were associated with rheumatoid arthritis severity and the response to treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor drugs.
This study, Viatte said, is a potentially important first step toward personalized medicine for patients with the challenging autoimmune disease.
In rheumatoid arthritis, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, causing inflammation that can damage joints and organs, such as the heart, according to the Arthritis Foundation. About 1.5 million people in the United States have the often disabling condition.
Viatte said the new findings, published April 28 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, must be replicated before they can influence patient treatment.
Still, Dr. David Felson, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at Boston University School of Medicine, welcomed the report.
"This newly discovered genetic abnormality that is associated with the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis seems also to be associated with the severity of the disease and maybe with risk of dying from rheumatoid arthritis," said Felson, co-author of an accompanying journal editorial.
He added that although the risks associated with this mutation are modest, they appear to be real. "Every little bit helps," Felson said.
There isn't just one gene associated with rheumatoid arthritis, however, Felson said. Also, outside factors such as smoking may play a part, he said.
Advances have been made in identifying genetic susceptibility for autoimmune diseases, but not much is known about how this might affect disease prognosis and treatment, according to background information in the study.
HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, April 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Genetic variations may hold clues to rheumatoid arthritis -- suggesting not only who will develop the painful condition, but also predicting its severity and even who might die from it, a new study says.
"Genetic factors predisposing to disease, to disease severity, and response to treatment will allow tailoring treatment to individual patients' needs," said lead researcher Dr. Sebastien Viatte, a research fellow at the University of Manchester in England.
Using data from several sources on thousands of patients in the United Kingdom, researchers found that gene mutations at a location on a chromosome called HLA-DRBl were associated with rheumatoid arthritis severity and the response to treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor drugs.
This study, Viatte said, is a potentially important first step toward personalized medicine for patients with the challenging autoimmune disease.
In rheumatoid arthritis, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, causing inflammation that can damage joints and organs, such as the heart, according to the Arthritis Foundation. About 1.5 million people in the United States have the often disabling condition.
Viatte said the new findings, published April 28 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, must be replicated before they can influence patient treatment.
Still, Dr. David Felson, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at Boston University School of Medicine, welcomed the report.
"This newly discovered genetic abnormality that is associated with the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis seems also to be associated with the severity of the disease and maybe with risk of dying from rheumatoid arthritis," said Felson, co-author of an accompanying journal editorial.
He added that although the risks associated with this mutation are modest, they appear to be real. "Every little bit helps," Felson said.
There isn't just one gene associated with rheumatoid arthritis, however, Felson said. Also, outside factors such as smoking may play a part, he said.
Advances have been made in identifying genetic susceptibility for autoimmune diseases, but not much is known about how this might affect disease prognosis and treatment, according to background information in the study.
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