To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: DNA Microarray Chip Predicts Functional Impairment and Remission in RA Patients URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/22389E.htm Doctor's Guide June 13, 2008
PARIS -- June 13, 2008 -- A new DNA microarray chip can predict severe disability and remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as presented today at EULAR 2008, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism. The chip (called the ARTchip) has yielded 2 clinical-genetic models of RA outcomes to assist physicians in anticipating likely disease progression and prognosis and thereby guide decisions on the best course of treatment for individual patients. The DNA microarray chip was developed as a tool to study 71 gene polymorphisms in 45 genes chosen specifically for their presumed role in RA. In this study, a DNA array was developed and used to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms that can help to predict the course of RA. Moreover, the study provides rheumatologists with a tool to predict RA aggressiveness, based on a weighted combination of clinical and genetic parameters. A total of 632 patients fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA, with disease onset after 1990 and at least 5-year disease duration, were analysed. Baseline variables were recorded including age, gender, smoking, joint counts, acute phase reactants, and the presence of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies and rheumatoid factor. Remission was defined as absence of joint symptoms without disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy. Severe disability was defined as a Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score of 2 or more. Predictive models were initially developed for 375 patients and further validated on 257 RA patients. More than three-quarters of the studied cases were females with 10.9 +- 3.6 years' disease duration. In the study and validation groups, 6% and 8% of patients respectively, had an HAQ score of 2 or more, indicating severe disability due to RA. The results from the DNA array significantly improved the ability of clinical scores to predict functional impairment. Results of the study showed that clinical scores in combination with the DNA array had a high level of accuracy when compared in the 2 independent populations. Overall, 6% of patients in the study group and 7% of patients in the validation group fell into the disease remission category. The results from the clinical scores in combination with the DNA array also accurately predicted remission in patients with RA. Alejandro Balsa, MD, University Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain, who led the study, said, "Prognostic markers, identified through our microarray chip, can be used to predict disease outcomes in RA patients which may help healthcare professionals to choose the best treatment for each patient depending on their level of disease activity." SOURCE: European League Against Rheumatism --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.