CTHRC1 also correlated significantly with RA disease activity based on the combined index of the 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28), the combined score DAS28-CRP, and with a panel of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and interferon gamma (IFNγ) [7]. Here, CRP is linked to rheumatoid arthritis.