CD34 and systemic sclerosis: After the first reports and phase I/II clinical trials with encouraging results [43–49], three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted in early severe SSc and compared AHSCT with IV pulses of CyP: the ASSIST trial, an unmanipulated, non-myeloablative AHSCT [8], the ASTIS trial, a CD34-selective, non-myeloablative AHSCT [9], and the SCOT trial, a CD34-selective, myeloablative AHSCT [10].