Among the 12 autophagy-related DEGs identified, all of them had an AUC >0.7, with CD93 and SFRP4 exhibiting high sensitivity and specificity in SSc diagnosis (P < 0.001, AUC = 0.904; P < 0.001, AUC = 0.944), respectively. The gene discussed is SFRP4; the disease is systemic sclerosis.