The SSc patients showed higher Dkk-1 serum levels than mHC SSc patients, showing the “Late” NVC pattern had statistically higher Dkk-1 serum levels than patients with either the “Active” or “Early” patterns Only in the “Late” NVC pattern group of SSc patients was there a significant negative correlation between Dkk-1 and TBS values. The gene discussed is DKK1; the disease is systemic sclerosis.