Schiopu et al. demonstrate that subclinical atherosclerosis is significantly higher in patients with SSc compared with controls and that certain novel proteins (IL-2, keratinocyte growth factor, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, endoglin, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, and insulin growth factor binding protein 3) are independently associated with vasculopathy and fibrosis process [39]. This evidence concerns the gene ICAM1 and atherosclerosis.