In univariate analyses, elevated IL-8 levels were significantly linked to a reduced risk of lymphopenia (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.33; P=0.0320), while being associated with a markedly increased risk of infections (OR = 4.54, P=0.0028) and polyneuropathy (OR = 3.84, P=0.0212). The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is infection.