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Article History

Received: 5 January 2018

Accepted: 26 March 2018

First Online: 2 May 2018

Authors’ information

: MC: full professor in Rheumatology, Director of the Research Laboratory and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Polyclinic San Martino Hospital; BR: PhD student in Immunology, Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Polyclinic San Martino Hospital; MP: PhD in Internal Medicine and Autoimmunity, Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Polyclinic San Martino Hospital; RB: PhD in Internal Medicine and Autoimmunity, Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Polyclinic San Martino Hospital; ES: trainee in Oncologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Polyclinic San Martino Hospital; ACT: PhD student in Immunology, Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Polyclinic San Martino Hospital; SSca: Hospital doctor and medical executive in Oncologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Polyclinic San Martino Hospital; PPT: medical surgeon in Dermatology, Unit of Dermatology, University of Genova, Polyclinic San Martino Hospital AP: full professor of Dermatology, Unit of Dermatology, University of Genova, Polyclinic San Martino Hospital; CC: PhD in Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Scleroderma Unit, University of Siena; NG: associate professor in Medical Science, Surgery and Neurosciences, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Scleroderma Unit, University of Siena; SP: assistant professor in Rheumatology, Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Polyclinic San Martino Hospital; CP: assistant professor in Rheumatology, Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Polyclinic San Martino Hospital; AS: associate professor in Rheumatology, Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Polyclinic San Martino Hospital; VS: associate professor in Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, Ghent University Hospital; SSol: PhD in Internal Medicine, Autoimmunity and Digestive System Diseases, Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Polyclinic San Martino Hospital.

: The study received approval by the local Ethical Board Committee, protocol ID number: 237REG2015.All patients with SSc and healthy subjects enrolled in the study gave signed informed consent.

: MC obtained funds for research from BMS, Actelion, Celgene, and Boehringer. BR, PM, RB, ES, ACT, SSca, PPT, AP CC, NG, SP, CP, AS, VS, and SSol have no competitive interests.

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