IL6 and endothelial dysfunction: In addition, elevated IL-6 has been associated with adverse clinical outcomes, such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular events (33), and in other chronic inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and chronic kidney disease, it correlates with endothelial dysfunction, increased arterial stiffness, and progression of subclinical atherosclerosis (14, 15, 33).