ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING BIOMARKERS OF INFLAMMATION IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Katarzyna Czechowicz; Aleksandra Stępień; Julia Radziwiłko; Kacper Curzytek; Andżelika Pastuszak; Grzegorz  Czepiel; Urszula Marzec; Wiktoria Leja; Maciej Błaszczak; Katarzyna  Latalska

doi:10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5060

Authors

Katarzyna Czechowicz Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Provincial Specialist Hospital SPZOZ in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0414-4531
Aleksandra Stępień Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Provincial Specialist Hospital SPZOZ in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9258-2294
Julia Radziwiłko University Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5582-3823
Kacper Curzytek University Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3049-0188
Andżelika Pastuszak University Clinical Hospital No. 4 in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2182-6032
Grzegorz Czepiel Ludwik Rydygier Specialist Hospital in Krakow, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2974-7022
Urszula Marzec Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Provincial Specialist Hospital SPZOZ in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6348-184X
Wiktoria Leja University Clinical Hospital No. 4 in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1817-2607
Maciej Błaszczak University Clinical Hospital No. 4 in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0216-6870
Katarzyna Latalska University Clinical Hospital No. 4 in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8102-8948

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5060

Keywords:

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Inflammatory Biomarkers, Prognostic Markers, microRNA, Adipokines, Autoantibody

Abstract

Background and Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent inflammation, progressive joint damage, and systemic consequences contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Although conventional biomarkers are fundamental for diagnosis and disease activity assessment, their prognostic accuracy remains limited. This review aimed to summarize current evidence on emerging inflammatory biomarkers in RA, with emphasis on their prognostic value and translational relevance for personalized disease management.

Methods: A structured literature search was conducted in major scientific databases, covering English-language publications from 2014 to March 2025. Studies were selected according to predefined inclusion criteria to identify clinically relevant data on novel inflammatory biomarkers in RA.

Results: Emerging biomarkers, including novel autoantibodies, 14-3-3η protein, calprotectin, selected cytokines, adipokines, circulating microRNAs, and hematological inflammatory indices, provide complementary insights into immune dysregulation and systemic inflammation. Several markers are associated with radiographic progression, extra-articular involvement, and treatment response. Multibiomarker disease activity scores represent an integrative approach linking molecular pathways with clinical assessment and risk stratification.

Conclusions: Integration of conventional and emerging biomarkers may enhance prognostic precision and support precision medicine strategies in RA. However, robust prospective validation and cost-effectiveness analyses are required before routine clinical implementation.

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