PDZK1IP1 and systemic sclerosis: In SSc, an inverse correlation between endocan and CD34+ cell number (r: −0.540, p = 0.002), and between endocan and sPAP (r: 0.565, p < 0.001) was found (Figure 2a,b, respectively); moreover, endocan levels also have a negative correlation with TAPSE (r −0.311, p < 0.01), and E/A ratio (r: −0.487, p < 0.001), but not with EF (r: −0.057, p = 0.785).