HIF1A and cholesteryl ester measurement: RT-qPCR analyzed the impact of antibiotics on the expression of HIF1α, VEGFA, and VEGFR2 in CE patients, and showed that levels of HIF1α and VEGFA were markedly reduced in patients who recovered from CE when compared with paired patients before treatment (P<0.001 and P=0.011, respectively, Figures 5A, B).