PTPN22 and rheumatoid arthritis: Considering our findings of a stronger predictive value of the combination of PTPN22 1858T variant with anti-CCP antibodies compared with HLA-SE and anti-CCP antibodies for development of RA in individuals before disease onset [7], the aim of the present study was to investigate the 1858 C/T polymorphism in relation to the presence of autoantibodies and HLA-SE alleles in an inception cohort of RA patients from northern Sweden for disease susceptibility, onset and inflammatory activity during the first 2 years.