Gene regulating severity of tissue damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis identified
Scientists have identified a new (C5orf30) which regulates the severity of tissue damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Severe, rapidly progressive, RA, diagnosed in 1999, and severe damage to finger joints by 2005 are shown
University College Dublin
Following the discovery published in PNAS, rheumatoid arthritis patients most likely to suffer the severest effects of the condition can now be identified early and fast-tracked to the more aggressive treatments available.
Although there is no cure for RA, new effective drugs are increasingly available to treat the disease and prevent deformed joints. Self-management of the condition by patients, including exercise, is also known to reduce pain and resulting disability.
"Our findings provide a genetic marker that could be used to identify those RA patients who require more aggressive treatments or personalised medicine," said Professor Gerry Wilson from the UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, who led the research.
"They also point to the possibility that increasing the levels of C5orf30 in the joints might be a novel method of reducing tissue damage caused by RA".
One of the biggest difficulties with treating rheumatoid arthritis is early diagnosis. With early diagnosis and aggressive treatment, it is possible to reduce the damage to the joints caused by RA. Deciding the most appropriate treatment for each patient at the earliest possible stage is central to effectively tackling the condition.
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