In parallel with its critical role in inflammation and immune response TNF‐α, especially that produced by cardiac myocytes, can lead to heart diseases including biventricular dilatation, depressed ejection fractions, myocyte apoptosis, myocarditis, fibrosis and atrial thrombosis (Bryant et al., 1998; Moe et al., 2004). Here, TNF is linked to myocarditis.