Median Hb level in SCA infants was 9.1 g/dL (6.5–12), a value significantly decreased in comparison with non-SCA infants (11 g/dL, 7.2–12.6, P < 0.001) whilst median reticulocyte percentage was increased in SCA infants (2.9%, 0.5–10 vs 2%, 0.5–4.2, P = 0.04). The gene discussed is GSTM1; the disease is autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia.