Pharmacogenetic methods for determining a predicting responsiveness to
antifolate therapy for subjects that present with recent-onset
undifferentiated arthritis. The methods are based on the determination of
a set of clinical parameter values and determining a predicted
responsiveness to antifolate therapy by correlating the parameter values
with predefined responsiveness values associated with ranges of parameter
values. Parameters values that are decisive for responsiveness to
antifolate therapy may include polymorphisms in the
methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (MTHFD1) gene as well as in three
genes involved in the adenosine release pathway, the presence or absence
of Rheumatoid factors, gender, pre- or postmenopausal status and/or
smoking status.