No correlation between the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope status (DRB1*0101, DRB1*0102, DRB1*0401, DRB1*0404, DRB1*0405, DRB1*0408, DRB1*1001) and the PTPN22 genotypes in RF+ RA index cases was observed (Table 4). This evidence concerns the gene PTPN22 and rheumatoid arthritis.