Diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract

Outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have improved considerably with the advent of new therapeutic modalities, improved therapeutic strategies and greater recognition of the need to manage comorbidities. Nevertheless, unmet needs remain. Sustained remission is achieved by only a minority of patients, in part owing to delays in diagnosis, imprecise risk stratification and suboptimal treatment selection. A pressing need therefore exists for robust diagnostic and prognostic tools to support clinical decision making. Advances in genetic, protein, imaging and multi-omics biomarkers offer opportunities to refine RA diagnosis, predict disease course and guide therapeutic choices. Parallel progress in biomarker discovery is also shaping understanding of major RA-associated comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, interstitial lung disease, osteoporosis and malignancy. Together, clinical introduction of such biomarkers could enable earlier intervention, more precise therapy and improved outcomes for patients with RA.