This finding could be reflecting the long‐time treatment of the chronic RA patients, as it has been reported that some anti‐rheumatic drugs such as to abatacept are associated with a concomitant decrease in CD8 + CD28 − T cells.24 However, we have not found significant differences between RA patients under treatment compared to those untreated. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.