Fig. 2.

The correlation of IgG (a) and IgM (b) anti-MMP-3 antibody levels against modified Rodnan total skin thickness score (modified Rodnan TSS) and correlation of IgG anti-MMP-3 antibody levels against pulsatility index (c) or %VC (d). The anatomical areas were rated as 0 (normal), 1 + (mild skin thickening), 2 + (moderate), and 3 + (severe) and modified Rodnan TSS was derived by summation of the scores from all 17 areas. The pulsatility index is a parameter for renal vascular resistance determined by colour-flow Doppler ultrasonography of the renal interlobar arteries of both kidneys. Anti-MMP-3 antibody levels were determined by an ELISA using human recombinant MMP-3.