Finally, our findings on total and HMW adiponectin-blood pressure relations (Tables 3 and 4) were materially unaltered upon further adjustment for potentially confounding RA characteristics comprising disease duration (cumulative inflammation), DAS28, C-reactive protein concentrations, rheumatoid factor status (disease severity) and the employed number of conventional DMARDs and biologic agent and prednisone use [62-65] (data not shown). This evidence concerns the gene ADIPOQ and rheumatoid arthritis.