STAT4 and rheumatoid arthritis: However, some gene polymorphisms are associated with RA susceptibility but not with an increased CVD risk, as, for example, PTPN22, STAT4 and TRAF1/C5 [40], IL6R rs2228145 and IL6ST/gp130 rs2228044 [41], VEGFA rs2010963 and the rs1570360 [42], and MHCIITA rs3087456 and rs4774 [43]; on the other hand, potentially involved polymorphisms, such as those of macrophage migration inhibitory factor-173, do not link with RA susceptibility and atherosclerosis occurrence [44].