TNF and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: Finally, in CTEPH patients, CRP (r = 0.73, P < 0.05), MCP-1 (r = 0.70, P < 0.05) and TNF-α (r = 0.66, P < 0.05) levels significantly correlated with plasma levels of TF antigen (Fig. 5), suggesting that these factors may promote the expression of TF antigen in monocytes and exacerbate thrombosis, thereby affecting the pathological process of CTEPH.