Moreover, Schiopu’s work noted increased expressions of serum proteins, including IL-2, IL-6, CRP, keratinocyte growth factor, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, endoglin, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3, associated with carotid plaques in an SSc population, while myeloid progenitor inhibitory factor 1, serum amyloid A, thrombomodulin, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and Clara cell secretory protein 16 kD correlated with cIMT. Here, NPPB is linked to systemic sclerosis.