Assessing responsiveness of rheumatoid arthritis patients to biological treatment

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of diagnosis and treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis, in particular of assessing responsiveness of rheumatoid arthritis patients to biological treatment. In particular it has been found that measurement of MDR1 and / or MRP1 transport activities in the early phase of or before bDMARD treatment is appropriate to provide a prediction on the effectiveness or success of bDMARD therapy once csDMARD therapy has failed. Thus, the invention relates to an in vitro diagnostic method for assessing the responsiveness of a sDMARD treated RA patient to bDMARD therapy, wherein preferably the patient is in need of a switch or modification of the sDMARD therapy by measuring transport activities of the above-mentioned transporters or their composite activities. The invention also relates to use of kits for the methods of the invention and methods for treatment comprising the diagnosis or prediction methods of the invention.