In humans, it is now clear that within the first 12 h after stroke, there is also a pronounced increase in the circulating levels of such pro‐inflammatory cytokines, including TNF‐α and IL‐6 (Zaremba & Losy, 2001; Waje‐Andreassen et al, 2005; Basic Kes et al, 2008; Tuttolomondo et al, 2009). Here, TNF is linked to stroke disorder.