To test this hypothesis, we examined serumlevels of these molecules aswell as of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), anestablished marker of SSc-related cardiovascular pathology [1, 12], and searched for correlations withechocardiography measurements of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP),myocardial performance, and pulmonary function tests. The gene discussed is NPPB; the disease is systemic sclerosis.