TGFB1 and Insulin resistance: Remarkably, TGF-β1 was associated with the presence of carotid plaque not only after adjustment for demographics (age, sex, BMI, diabetes, hypertension, and aspirin use) but also after adjustment for relationships of TGF-β1 with lipid profile molecules and insulin resistance, plus SLEDAI score (odds ratio 1.14 [95% confidence interval 1.003–1.30], p = 0.045) (Table 3).