Fig 1. Flow-chart for selection of the SSc/SRC and SSc/no SRC cases.

As described in the material and methods, screening of the military electronic medical records between 2005–2016 for Systemic Sclerosis was initially preformed. Following comprehensive review, 54 cases of SS/SRC were identified, of which only 16 had available serum samples. Thirty additional SSc/no SRC cases were then identified that were matched for age, gender and race with the SS/SRC group.