Integrated serum proteomics and autoantibody analyses reveal a biomarker signature predictive of flare during biologic tapering in rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Reliable biomarkers predicting which patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can safely undergo biologic tapering are currently lacking. This study aimed to identify circulating protein biomarkers predictive of flare during biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug tapering in RA.

Methods

Baseline serum samples from patients with RA in sustained remission enrolled in the Biologic Optimisation (OPTIBIO) clinical trial were analysed using a two-stage design comprising an exploratory mass spectrometry in a discovery sample subset (n=44, 22 in the optimisation arm and 22 in the control arm), followed by ELISA validation of selected protein biomarkers and anti-cytokine autoantibody profiling in the full cohort (n=194). The primary outcome was a disease flare durin

SUBMITTER: Blanco FJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC13630038 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature