HMGB1 and rheumatoid arthritis: Previous studies have reported a difference in extracellular HMGB1 levels in RA and OA synovial fluid with HMGB1 levels being significantly higher (54.1 ± SD 73.0 ng/ml) in RA synovial fluid than in OA synovial fluid (12.0 ± SD 17.7 ng/ml [23].