Who will not respond adequately to traditional DMARDs? Which patients would benefit most from expensive, sometimes-effective biologic agents, and who is most likely to experience adverse events? Although firm answers to these questions are pending, pharmacogenetic studies offer insight into how an individual's genetic identity determines the metabolic fate and outcome of drug therapies. In this article the authors summarize the extent of such knowledge in rheumatology today, and discuss the hurdles remaining before the ultimate goal of personalized therapy can be achieved.
- Lesley Davila
- Prabha Ranganathan
