Arterial inflammation has been shown in patients with systemic hypertension.3 Cytokines, including IL‐1 (interleukin 1), are key mediators in inflammation.4, 5 In pathological vascular disease, the main role of IL‐1 is to regulate leukocyte migration and accumulation.6, 7 IL‐1 has also been shown to promote endothelial cell dysfunction,8 a cardinal process in the pathogenesis of hypertension and atherosclerosis. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is atherosclerosis.