The conducted assessment of the relation between the abovementioned variables in SSc patients indicated a moderate positive correlation only between plasma MMP-3 concentration and duration of the disease (r = 0.41, p < 0.05) as well as plasma TIMP-1 level and mRss (r = 0.36, p < 0.05), respectively (Figure 1). The gene discussed is TIMP1; the disease is systemic sclerosis.