Review
Advances in the genetics of rheumatoid arthritis point to subclassification into distinct disease subsets
Author affiliations
Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300RC Leiden, The Netherlands
Citation and License
Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008, 10:205 doi:10.1186/ar2384
Published: 31 March 2008Abstract
In the past few years considerable advances have been made in the genetics of susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). For decades the HLA-DRB1 alleles were the only extensively replicated genetic factor, but more genetic risk factors have now been identified that predispose to RA. Interestingly, several of the observed genetic variants conferred risk to anticitrulline-peptide antibody (ACPA)-positive RA and two variants may be restricted to ACPA-negative RA, pointing to the need for subclassification of RA. The current manuscript reviews recently identified genetic factors predisposing to ACPA-positive RA and ACPA-negative RA. Additionally, although being scarcely explored, genetic variants affecting the severity of disease course are discussed.
