Early RA synovial fluid was characterized by significantly elevated levels of T cell related cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-13 and IL-17) and stromal cell and macrophage related cytokines (EGF, bFGF, IL-1 and IL-15) when compared with synovial fluid from patients with other early synovitis (Figs 1 and 2, and Table 2). This evidence concerns the gene EGF and rheumatoid arthritis.