Median serum concentrations of these biomarkers were significantly elevated in patients with SSc compared with control subjects: VEGF (57 pg/ml, IQR 39–118, versus 42 pg/ml, IQR 26–78.7; P = 0.0357) (Fig. 3a), endothelin-1 (1.68 pg/ml, IQR 1.3–2.0, versus 1.2 pg/ml, IQR 1.0–1.3; P < 0.0001) (Fig. 3b) and s-Fractalkine (465.45 pg/ml, IQR 366.4–598.5, versus 186 pg/ml, IQR 140.5–268.0 pg/ml; P < 0.0001) (Fig. 3c). The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is systemic sclerosis.