TNF and atherosclerosis: According to the study by Mackey, R. H. and Myasoedova E. et al., ACCP-positive RA patients have higher levels of atherosclerosis index (AI), ESR, TNF-α, and IL-6, and lower levels of HDL, with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) being correlated with ACCP, CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 (172, 177).