In cirrhotic patients with covert or minimal HE, plasma levels of many pro‐inflammatory cytokines, including IL‐6, IL‐21, IL‐17, IL‐10, IFN‐γ, IL‐18, CCL20, TNF‐α, CXCL13, IL‐15, and CX3CL1 are elevated, and TGF‐β is reduced. The gene discussed is IL10; the disease is hereditary elliptocytosis.