This is the first study to show that: hepcidin-25 is increased during human sepsis; in septic patients the degree of inflammation, indicated by IL-6 levels and number of SIRS criteria present, is associated with the elevated concentrations of hepcidin; and persistently increased levels of hepcidin-25 at day two and day three after admission are associated with a decrease in Hb during hospitalization. This evidence concerns the gene GSTM1 and systemic inflammatory response syndrome.