Results of subgroup analysis showed that there was a positive association between DRB1*0404 and X-ray phases to RA in phases I~II (OR=0.47, 95% CI=0.26–0.87), but not in the phases III~IV (OR =1.27, 95% CI=0.84, 1.92). Here, HLA-DRB1 is linked to rheumatoid arthritis.