Sensitivity analyses included heterogeneity testing, MR-Egger intercept assessment, and leave-one-out analysis.<h4>Results</h4>Genetically higher levels of IL-2 (OR=0.35, 95 % CI: 0.13-0.99, p<i>=</i>0.043), IL-4 (OR=0.50, 95 % CI: 0.30-0.85, p<i>=</i>0.010), and NT-3 (OR=0.46, 95 % CI: 0.28-0.75, p<i>=</i>0.0038) were significantly associated with lower risk of HE. Here, NTF3 is linked to hereditary elliptocytosis.