Predictive biomarkers for precision treatment in rheumatoid arthritis: are we there yet?

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting approximately 1% of the global population and is associated with a substantial reduction in both life expectancy and quality of life. Although current treatments, primarily disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, have been shown to suppress inflammation, clinical responses vary widely between individuals, reflecting the heterogeneity of the disease. Consequently, identifying reliable biomarkers to predict therapeutic response has become a key priority for improving clinical management. In this focused review, we summarise recent advances in the discovery of predictive biomarkers for RA and compare their reported specificity and sensitivity using published data. We also highlight key limitations in the existing literature that undermine reproducibility in this field. Coordinated efforts across the rheumatology community to address these challenges will be essential to translate biomarker research into personalised treatment strategies for RA.