While having an autoimmune disease such as SSc alone increases the risk of experiencing a CV event (37) and for coronary heart disease by 3-fold (57) compared to the general population, our study provides first hints that suffering from SSc and having additionally a chronic inflammation as seen in our CRP+ SSc group may enhance the estimated risk for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease beyond the risk of CRP− SSc patients. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is autoimmune disease.