Another strength was the assumption of no changes in D-dimer levels (as seen in the shorter TANGO study); given the differences in D-dimer levels observed in the longer AIR study, and since both IL-6 and D-dimer have been found to independently contribute to the risk of severe non-AIDS events (38), this was a conservative approach for the longer-term consequences of changes in inflammation. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and AIDS.