To the Editor

In the study, the expression of the autophagy-related gene Beclin-1 was investigated in 204 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, the expression level was compared with healthy controls, and the association between the expression level of Beclin-1 and some disease characteristics such as disease duration, disease activity, acute phase reactants were analyzed. Medications used, especially the steroid dosage, can interfere with the effect of disease activity on gene expression because higher doses are prescribed to those with higher disease activity. From rheumatological point of view, seronegative RA (both RF and anti-CCP negative) is an important issue [4] so the addition of an analysis comparing both RF and anti-CCP negative patients with RF and/or anti-CCP positive patients would be valuable. Since Sarhan et al. already have these data, the addition of analysis according to medications used and seropositivity/seronegativity would increase the value of their study and their contribution to the literature.