Figure 4  Correlation of adiponectin with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, or MMP-13 in the joint fluid from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA) patients. The level of adiponectin was positively correlated with the level of VEGF in the joint fluid of (a) RA patients, but not (b) OA patients. The level of adiponectin did not correlate with the levels of MMP-1 and MMP-13 in either RA or OA patients.