In subgroup comparisons, it was found that patients with progression of carotid atherosclerosis had a higher serum concentration of pentraxin 3 (11.4 pg/mL (6.70–13.9) versus 6.82 pg/mL (2.54–11.5) (p = 0.034)) and lower IFNγ (14.9 pg/mL (10.4–18.7) versus 20.8 pg/mL (14.8–25.3) (p = 0.008)). The gene discussed is PTX3; the disease is carotid atherosclerosis.