Using this evidence the researchers now hope to develop medicines based on antibodies that will target the gene's activity and potentially slow or stop the progression of disease.

In order to mitigate these risks, corticosteroid doses are decreased biweekly assuming no further progression of disease after each reduction.

However, research into understanding and characterizing heterogeneity can allow for a better understanding of the causes and progression of disease.

Progression of disease in the spine may lead to paralysis.

Predictive biomarkers help to assess the most likely response to a particular treatment type, while prognostic markers shows the progression of disease with or without treatment.