The 12-gene expression signature proved to be specific to the systemic phase of SoJIA, as it correctly identified 22 of 23 patients in the systemic phase of SoJIA, none of 12 patients who were in the arthritic phase (without systemic symptoms), and none of 12 healthy control patients.
The goal of a SoJIA expression signature is to diagnose patients with SoJIA as soon as they present to the hospital with fever (before they have arthritis) so that they can be treated with IL-1 blockers—and possibly IL-6 blockers—before they develop arthritis, Dr. Pascual said.
“We are going to apply this test now to a new cohort of patients who are going to be enrolled in a new trial with a different modality of IL-1 blockade [an IL-1 drug] in the United States,” Dr. Pascual said.