The IL‐1 superfamily members IL‐1α, IL‐1β and IL‐18 are acknowledged to play a role in the pathogenesis of fibrosis and autoimmune disease, including SSc.7 Most SSc studies, however, have been conducted in small and poorly described populations.16, 20, 25 To date, our study is the largest and most ethnically diverse to investigate the clinical relevance of serum IL‐1α, IL‐1β and IL‐18 in SSc. This evidence concerns the gene IL18 and autoimmune disease.