CRP and rheumatoid arthritis: To assess the potential of candidate miRNAs as biomarkers of RA, and to determine whether the increased plasma levels in RA patients reflect only the general inflammation, we examined correlation coefficients between miRNAs and established clinical variables, including RF, ACPA, serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), DAS28, swollen joint count (SJC), and tender joint count (TJC).