Consistent with our results, previous studies point to MMP-7 as a key biomarker of RA-ILD+ showing higher concentrations of this protein in these patients in relation to those with RA-ILD− (Luedders et al. 2024; Kass et al. 2020; Chen et al. 2015; Doyle et al. 2015). Here, MMP7 is linked to interstitial lung disease.