Serum levels of connective tissue growth factor are elevated in patients with systemic sclerosis: association with extent of skin sclerosis and severity of pulmonary fibrosis.

Abstract

Serum CTGF levels were increased in patients with SSc, and correlated with the extent of skin sclerosis and the severity of pulmonary fibrosis. In addition, it appears that production of CTGF is involved in the development or maintenance of fibrosis rather than in initiation of fibrosis in SSc. These data suggest that CTGF plays a critical role in the development of fibrosis in SSc.