In contrast, subjects with refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) had the highest hepcidin levels, which were paralleled by high CRP levels rather than iron-related parameters, suggesting a higher inflammatory level and/or blast-derived cytokines that overcome hepcidin regulation by erythroid factors. The gene discussed is HAMP; the disease is myelodysplastic syndrome with excess blasts.