EPC level (Lin-/7AAD-/CD34+/CD133+/VEGFR-2+) was significantly higher in RA patients than in controls (112 [27 to 588] versus 60 [5 to 275] EPCs; P = 0.0007) (Table 2 and Figure 1a). This evidence concerns the gene PROM1 and rheumatoid arthritis.