IL6 and Cirrhosis: Moreover, given that the reduction in HRV in patients with cirrhosis has been correlated with increased cytokine levels (Genesca et al., 1999; Tilg et al., 1992), namely IL‐6 (Aronson et al., 2001; González‐Clemente et al., 2007; Tateishi et al., 2007), this highlights the central role systemic inflammation potentially elicits in giving rise to this manifestation and in precipitating reduced HRV.