Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-b) was significantly higher in all patients with SSc as compared to the Controls (TGF-b in pg/ml: Controls 4549 ± 677; SSc all 6259 ± 495; lSSc 6057 ± 533; dSSc 6935 ± 1246; p-value for Controls vs. SSc all 0.049) (Fig. 3). This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and systemic sclerosis.