Although markers of systemic inflammation such as CRP (C-reactive protein) and pro-inflammatory cytokines [e.g., Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor-necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα)] have been mainly evaluated in regard to the diagnosis of large-artery atherosclerosis, growing evidence suggests a prominent role of systemic inflammation in the pathophysiology of AF (78) and the prothrombotic state in AF patients (79). Here, TNF is linked to atrial fibrillation.