Previous reports from patients with sickle cell disease, spherocytosis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, erythropoietic protoporphyria and pyruvate kinase deficiency suggest that Hp depletion in plasma occurs prior to the decline of hemopexin (Hx) concentrations (Muller-Eberhard et al., 1968). The gene discussed is HPX; the disease is autoimmune hemolytic anemia.