In addition, the detrimental impact of chronic HCMV on the health of older people has been linked with elevated levels of inflammatory markers, including IL‐6 23, 30, 31, which are often already increased in patients with B‐CLL and may therefore confound any impact of HCMV on further health outcomes 32, 33. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.