SERUM MARKERS PREDICTING CLINICAL RESPONSE TO ANTI-TNFALPHA ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

摘要

The invention provides tools for management of patients diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, specifically, prior to the initiation of therapy with an anti-TNFα agent. The tools are specific markers and algorithms of predicting response to therapy based on standard clinical primary and secondary endpoints using serum marker concentrations. In one embodiment the baseline levels of VEGF, prostatic acid phosphatase, and adiponectin are 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 MDC, lipoprotein a, and beta2- microglobulin.