TNF and carotid atherosclerosis: Tsui et al demonstrated increased levels of CRP, TNF‐α, IL‐6, and hospitalizations due to clinical cardiac failure among HCV positive patients compared to controls.35 Adinolfi et al demonstrated increased pro‐inflammatory cytokines levels were associated with a significantly higher prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in HCV‐infected patients compared to controls.100 Similarly, Alyan et al found coronary artery disease (CAD) severity scores were significantly higher among CHC patients than among HCV negative controls.