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

摘要

The invention provides tools for management of patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis and prior to the initiation of therapy with an anti-TNFalpha agent. 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 after 4 weeks of therapy is used such as complement component 3.