Pharmacogenetics of TNF inhibitor response in rheumatoid arthritis utilizing the two-component disease activity score

AIM: TNF inhibitor drugs are a treatment option for rheumatoid arthritis, but response is not universal. Response is typically measured using the composite 4-component (4C) disease activity score 28 (DAS28) which contains more subjective measures. This study used a validated 2-component (2C) DAS28 score to determine whether SNPs associated with response were replicated in the UK population. MATERIALS & METHODS: A literature review identified TNF inhibitor response SNPs. Linear regression was conducted to replicate associations with 4C or 2C-DAS28 response. RESULTS: Eighteen independent SNPs were analyzed in 1828 patients. One and four associations with 4C and 2C-DAS28 response respectively were identified (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Further genetic associations were replicated using the 2C-DAS28 which may reflect the objective nature of 2C-AS28.