ASSESSING THE RISK OF DISEASE PROGRESSION FOR A PATIENT WITHRHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

摘要

The present invention relates to an in vitro method aiding in the further assessment of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The method espe cially is used in assessing whether an RA patient is at risk of disease prog ression. The method is for example practiced by analyzing biochemical marker s, comprising measuring in a sample the concentration of at least C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 and correlating the concentrations determin ed to the likelihood of an underlying rapidly progressing form of RA. A pati ent at high risk of a rapidly progressing disease might be a patient in need for treatment or if already treated in need for a different and more effect ive treatment. The invention also relates to the use of a marker panel compr ising C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 in the assessment of a patient wi th rheumatoid arthritis and it teaches a protein array device and kit, respe ctively, for performing the method of the invention.