TNFα and IL-6 were significantly increased in SSc patients with a disease duration of 0 to 5 years (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively) and a duration of 5 to 10 years (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.007, respectively) compared with controls (Figure 3). Here, TNF is linked to systemic sclerosis.