The study further validated the well-established associations of HLA, PTPN22 and PTPN2 with JIA, in addition to confirming the involvement of other loci such as STAT4 with JIA, that were previously associated with the disease, but not at a genome-wide level of significance (p < 5 × 10-8)[6]. This evidence concerns the gene PTPN22 and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.