Compared to the RA group, patients with primary SS had smaller disease duration (8.4 ± 7.03 versus 14.8 ± 11.0 years; P = 0.0004), reduced current daily steroid dose intake (1.3 ± 2.2 mg versus 4.8 ± 4.7 mg; P = 0.0001), lower serum triglyceride (103.7 ± 43.1 mg/dl versus 124.7 ± 53.8 mg/dl; P = 0.01) and CRP levels (4.6 ± 10.7 mg/l versus 14.8 ± 27.9 mg/l; P <0.0001) as well as higher 25(OH) vitamin D and phosphate levels (21.3 ± 11.4 ng/ml versus 17.5 ± 7.1 ng/ml; P = 0.04 and 3.3 ± 0.5 mg/dl versus 3.1 ± 0.5 mg/dl; P = 0.01, respectively). The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.