No significant publication bias was found by using Egger’s tests except for the analysis of age at onset of RA (t = -3.10, P = 0.015), positive ACPA (t = 2.61, P = 0.024), RF titer (t = 4.27, P = 0.024) and ACPA titer (t = 2.89, P = 0.044) (Table 1). This evidence concerns the gene PRTN3 and rheumatoid arthritis.