TNF and rheumatoid arthritis: Table 1 shows the comparison of RA subgroups with and without increased cIMT. No statistical differences in age, disease duration, and disease activity were observed between higher and lower cIMT groups. The increased cIMT group (>0.6 mm) showed higher serum levels of TC (P < 0.001), Tg (P = 0.002), ox-LDL (P < 0.001), and AIP (P < 0.001) and lower serum levels of HDL-c (P < 0.001) compared with the cIMT group (<0.6 mm). Serum levels of CRP, TNFα, IL-6, and anti-CCP also were higher in the increased cIMT group (P < 0.001).