VEGFA and systemic sclerosis: Circulating VEGF levels are elevated in several autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), RA, AS, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), systemic sclerosis (SSc) (62), Bechet’s disease and multiple sclerosis (MS) (63) with a positive association to disease activity and severity (62, 63).