Various inflammatory markers, such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), have been used to assess atherosclerosis risk and progression, in addition to traditional risk factors, such as cigarette smoking, hypertension (HTN), dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus (DM)5–9. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is atherosclerosis.