IL6 and atrial fibrillation: Studies have shown that patients with AF had significantly higher serum levels of IL1β compared to non-AF patients.25 Moreover, IL6 levels have been shown to be elevated in patients with increased atrial size and increased AF duration.26 Furthermore, it has been shown that activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is implicated in the overexpression of IL1β and IL6 in AF.27–29 Hence, our data support the idea that RA CM participate in the RA inflammatory status associated with AF in RHD (Figures 8 and 9).