SERUM MARKERS PREDICTING CLINICAL RESPONSE TO ANTI-TNFαANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide tools for management of patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis prior to the initiation of therapy with an anti-TNFαagent.SOLUTION: The tools are specific markers and algorithms of predicting response to therapy based on standard clinical primary and secondary end-points using serum marker concentrations. In one embodiment, the baseline level of leptin or osteocalcin is used to predict the response at week 14 after the initiation of therapy. In another embodiment, the change in a serum protein biomarker such as complement component 3 after 4 weeks of therapy is used.