Moreover, comparing IPF patients with those with NSIP and other lung diseases, the combined ROC curve (AUC 0.79; 95% CI 0.69–0.90) was similar to that of MMP-7 alone (p = 0.876) and significantly higher than that of fcDNA (p = 0.019), suggesting that MMP-7 alone is a good discriminating marker for IPF. This evidence concerns the gene MMP7 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.