IL17A and hematocrit: By measuring the levels of serum IL-22, IL-17 and IFN-γ in each study participant by ELISA, we found that the levels of serum IL-22, IL-17 and IFN-γ in the HT patients were significantly higher than that in HC (p<0.001, p<0.001, p = 0.021, respectively; Fig. 4A).