Genetic variants in glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes have been reported to be associated with susceptibility to many chronic inflammatory conditions and other diseases including malaria [7,8], anaemia [9], asthma [10], allergy [10], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [11], diabetes [12], cardiovascular diseases [12] and cancer [13]. The gene discussed is HPGDS; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.