Interestingly, statistical significance of candidate cytokines contributing to persistent CE was dramatically changed by stepwise adjusting for covariables in multivariable logistic analysis as expected: at first, the OR of Eotaxin (at T1 and T4), sCD40L (at T4) and TNF-α (at T4) improved after adjusting basic epidemiologic information in model 1, compared to the results in univariable analysis. This evidence concerns the gene CD40LG and cholesteryl ester measurement.