We have previously reported that blood concentrations of hepcidin, a key regulator of iron homeostasis and the hormone that is central to the pathogenesis of ACD, were strongly associated with both the severity of anaemia as well as the degree of mycobacterial dissemination in patients with HIV-associated TB.11 We thus hypothesised that ACD would be the most common cause of anaemia in such patients, although this has not previously been systematically characterised in patients with HIV-associated TB. The gene discussed is HAMP; the disease is anemia (phenotype).