The objectives of the current study were to assess the relationships between circulating MMP-3 and (i) SE; (ii) biomarkers of inflammation and cartilage degradation; (iii) disease activity and radiographic changes in comparison with CRP and SAA in a cohort of predominantly black female South Africans with early disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) naive RA. This evidence concerns the gene MMP3 and rheumatoid arthritis.