October 2024

RHEUMATOLOGY

BIOMARKERS MAY HELP PREDICT RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS CHANGES DURING PREGNANCY

In 50% to 75% of women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), pregnancy can induce a natural improvement. It’s unknown why RA improves during pregnancy, or why it may worsen in a small proportion of women. 

Investigators, including Damini Jawaheer, PhD, research associate professor of Rheumatology, identified pre-pregnancy gene expression signatures that may represent biomarkers in predicting improvement or worsening of RA during pregnancy according to a study published in Arthritis Research & Therapy. 

The key findings highlight:
  • Genes related to neutrophils were expressed in women who improved during pregnancy.
  • Genes related to B cells were expressed in women who worsened.

These findings have important clinical implications, sharing a potential way to personalize treatment approaches for RA during pregnancy.
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Ultimately, being able to predict the improvement or worsening of RA during pregnancy will help women and their rheumatologists make more informed treatment decisions. Women who would have improved naturally during their pregnancy, along with their fetus, can avoid unnecessary exposure to medication. Treatment can then be targeted to women predicted to experience worsening of their RA. 
Damini Jawaheer, PhD, Research Associate Professor of Rheumatology at Northwestern Medicine

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