In addition, we did not take into account that all the investigations of HMGB1 could have been influenced by other comorbidities such as obesity (body condition score >4/5 or >6/9), any other conditions (e.g. hypothyroidism and idiopathic hyperlipidemia), and administration of medications (e.g. corticosteroids and antiepileptic drugs) that can potentially trigger AP and affect the serum HMGB1 concentration. This evidence concerns the gene HMGB1 and hypothyroidism.