Assistant Professor Kristian Juul-Madsen, Professor
p have developed the method, which has been tested on rheumatoid arthritis patients but can potentially be used to monitor disease progression in many patient groups. Credit Photo: Simon Byrial Fischel/AU Health
New Biomarker Could Transform Autoimmune Disease Monitoring
Published by: Aarhus University
Researchers at Aarhus University have developed a cutting-edge analytical method to track disease progression, specifically focusing on rheumatoid arthritis. This breakthrough shows great potential for revolutionizing healthcare by providing doctors with crucial insights into patient conditions.
Unveiling a New Biomarker
Patients with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, often require lifelong medical care. Monitoring disease progression is vital for ensuring optimal treatment. A new study published in the Journal of Translational Autoimmunity highlights a promising biomarker for disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.
Assistant Professor Kristian Juul-Madsen, Professor Thomas Vorup-Jensen, and Associate Professor Tue Wenzel Kragstrup have created a method for identifying large immunoactive complexes in patients with inflammation, specifically those with rheumatoid arthritis. This innovative approach allows for the parallel measurement of patient samples, significantly increasing testing capacity.
“You go from analyzing a few samples a day to potentially several hundred,” explains Assistant Professor Juul-Madsen. “This method can be implemented without new training or equipment—just buy the reagents and get started.”
Focus on Rheumatoid Arthritis
The study examined blood and synovial fluid samples from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that predominantly affects women in their fifties and requires lifelong treatment. Ensuring the correct medication dosage is crucial, as too low a dosage can cause joint deformity, while too high a dosage can lead to side effects and complications.
The new method provides a more precise assessment of disease progression, allowing for tailored treatment plans for individual patients.
Implications Beyond Rheumatoid Arthritis
The researchers believe this method could also be applied to other autoimmune diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Associate Professor and Rheumatologist Tue Wenzel Kragstrup, who collected samples and developed the assays, emphasizes the potential for better diagnostics and treatment.
“Better diagnostics lead to better treatment. This method makes it possible to improve diagnostics and monitoring in a healthcare system under time pressure,” says Dr. Kragstrup. “The next step is to test this method on different patient cohorts, including those with autoimmune kidney and intestinal diseases.”
Co-author Professor Thomas Vorup-Jensen adds, “Oligomerisation of immuno-relevant proteins is crucial for their activity. Even small concentrations of these complexes can account for the majority of the immune system’s response. We have demonstrated this in diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and it’s a field in rapid development.”