IL6 and cytomegalovirus infection: Alternatively, and in our view more likely, because CMV antibody levels were found to be associated with inflammatory biomarkers in MESA,26 CMV infection may only have an indirect role in the development of atherosclerosis by promoting chronic immune activation (and Th1 biasing) and inflammation (eg, increased circulating IL‐6 levels), responses that may vary depending on other underlying factors.