Tada M, et al. - Authors gauged the associations between sarcopenia and disease activity, physical function, laboratory data and body composition at baseline in a prospective, observational study (CHIKARA study) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. They measured the body composition using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. In patients with RA whose disease activity was mild, the prevalence of sarcopenia was 28%. Findings suggested an independent association of low BMI, high fat mass and high matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) with sarcopenia. They noted the probability of MMP3 to be a useful marker for sarcopenia in patients with RA.