There were 54 %, 59 %, 77 %, and 70 % of RA patients with normal CRP at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th month, respectively, compared with 32 %, 38 %, 46 %, and 62 % of RA patients with normal serum MMP-3 at the same time points. The gene discussed is MMP3; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.