In terms of inflammatory markers, ESR and CRP were significantly higher in the SSc group (20 [12, 36] vs 9.5[4.5, 14]mm/h, p<0.00l; 6.64[2.87, 22.53] vs 2 [1.14, 4.51] mg/L, p<0.00l) (Figure 1B). Here, ESR1 is linked to systemic sclerosis.