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Review
. 2020 Apr;26(5):533-539.
doi: 10.1177/1352458519884249. Epub 2020 Jan 22.

Lessons from precision medicine in rheumatology

Theresa L Wampler Muskardin  1 , Jacqueline L Paredes  1 , Simone Appenzeller  2 , Timothy B Niewold  1
Affiliations
Review

Lessons from precision medicine in rheumatology

Theresa L Wampler Muskardin et al. Mult Scler. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are two common autoimmune rheumatic diseases that vary in severity, clinical presentation, and disease course between individuals. Molecular and genetic studies of both diseases have identified candidate genes and molecular pathways that are linked to various disease outcomes and treatment responses. Currently, patients can be grouped into molecular subsets in each disease, and these molecular categories should enable precision medicine approaches to be applied in rheumatic diseases. In this article, we will review key lessons learned about disease heterogeneity and molecular characterization in rheumatology, which we hope will lead to personalized therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: Beta-interferon; biomarkers; genetics; immunology; neuromyelitis optica.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: TB Niewold has recieved support from EMD Serono and MicroDrop, Inc, which is unrelated to this manuscript and did not support this work

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic diagram showing relationships between physical phenotypes, molecular phenotypes, and treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis. Similar dynamics exist in other autoimmune diseases, and these genotype-immunological-physical phenotype relationships likely mediate the complexity and heterogeneity observed in autoimmune diseases.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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