HP and systemic sclerosis: SSc patients who reported “moderate-to-very severe” symptoms at UCLA diarrhea had statistically significant higher median LBP [12045 ng/ml (IQR 10830–14170) vs. 8170 ng/ml (IQR 7787–9935), p < 0.001] and Zonulin [0.98 ng/ml (IQR 0.89–1.34) vs. 0.87 ng/ml (IQR 0.83–0.96), p < 0.01] compared to SSc patients with UCLA diarrhea “none-to-mild” (Fig. 3E-F).