> = 18 years, active RA for > = 6 months + < 15 years, > = 9 TJC + SJC with either ESR > = 30 m/hour or CRP > 15 mg/l, MTX for > = 6 months with a stable dosage of > = 10 mg/week for > = 2 months. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.