However, in other studies, higher CIMT was associated with higher levels of IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, us-CRP, and sVCAM-1.2,3 Both our studies and other ones cited have small sample size, so further investigation is needed to more accurately confirm the relationship between inflammatory markers and the occurrence of carotid atherosclerosis. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and carotid atherosclerosis.