Shortened Leukocyte telomere length (PBL-TL) is assoc w/ systemic sclerosis–ILD. Study of PBL-TL in 244 SSc vs 314 controls, found signif shorter PBL-TL in SSC. Short PBL-TL was assoc w/ ILD & Pulm HTN, more lung related hospitalizations, but not w/ Raynauds, skin or vascular dz