Subanalyses on skin sclerosis included duration of disease (>/< 6 years), presence of SSc-associated interstitial lung disease, baseline mRSS (>/< 20), gender, age (median age >/< 48), disease type (dSSc/limited cutaneous type SSc), prior treatment, and serum CRP levels (>/< 0.3 mg/dl), respectively; all analyses showed the efficacy of rituximab for mRSS, indicating that rituximab may be effective against skin sclerosis in a broad group of SSc patients. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is systemic sclerosis.