SSc patients with a history of GAVE compared with those without a history of GAVE were older at SSc onset [49.5 (40.0–58.2) vs 46.7 (36.0–56.7) years, p = 0.05]; more likely to have diffuse disease subtype (dcSSc) (35.3% vs 24.1%, p < 0.001); be negative for Scl-70, U1RNP and Scl/PM antibody (4.0% vs 16.1%, p < 0.001, 3.5% vs 7.4%, p = 0.041, 0.0% vs 2.0%, p = 0.042; and respectively) and positive for RNAP III antibody (24.9% vs 8.3%, p < 0.001). The gene discussed is SNRNP70; the disease is systemic sclerosis.