Anti-U1RNP autoantibodies, anti-CL IgG/IgM type autoantibodies, AECA and both endothelial cell markers (TM and vWFAg) were significant increased in MCTD patients versus controls and in the MCTD/CVD+ versus MCTD/CVD- patient groups (Table 3). The gene discussed is CD40LG; the disease is mixed connective tissue disease.