1984; Barretto et al. 2009). Experimental data from animals showing that inflammatory cytokines (IL‐6, TNF‐α, IL‐1β) can increase sympathetic nerve activity (Niijima et al. 1991; Zhang et al. 2003; Helwig et al. 2008) led to our hypothesis that an elevated circulating cytokine concentration is associated with increased MSNA in RA. By using microneurography to provide a direct assessment of sympathetic outflow, we circumvented the limitations associated with the measurement of plasma catecholamines, which reflect tissue clearance and uptake, as well as production (Esler et al. 1990). The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.