MMP-3 positive RA patients had greater disease activity (p < 0.05), and inflammatory markers, such as ESR (p < 0.01), CRP (p < 0.001), and VEGF (p < 0.05), were also significantly raised regardless of ACPA positivity, which was consistent with the results of the correlation analysis (Figure 6). The gene discussed is ESR1; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.