It has been reported that a SNP at the 3′-UTR of SPARC, i.e., +998C>G (equivalent to SNP rs1053411 in the present study), was associated with systemic sclerosis in different populations, and the C/C genotype was correlated with a longer mRNA half-life in normal fibroblasts, than were heterozygotes (G/C). This evidence concerns the gene SPARC and systemic sclerosis.