ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Clinical and genetic heterogeneity of rheumatoid arthritis

Piotr Klimiuk , Cornelia Weyand , Stanisław Sierakowski , Jorg Goronzy

Published: 2000-11-15

GICID: 01.3001.0000.3313

Available language versions: en

Issue: Postepy Hig Med Dosw 2000; 54 (6)

Abstract

The diagnostic category of rheumatoid arthritis, a syndrome of chronic inflammatory disease of the synovial membrane and of extraarticular tissues, covers a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes. Here we propose that distinct combinations of disease risk genes produce heterogeneity of rheumatoid disease. Recognition of this genetic and clinical heterogeneity has immediate implications as it provides the opportunity to develop selective therapies for the different variants of disease