Hepcidin expression was suppressed in children with SMA as evidenced by a lower hepcidin/ferritin ratio (0.10 [IQR 0.03, 0.19]) compared to those with CM (0.24 [IQR 0.14, 0.69]; P=0.006), or asymptomatic parasitemia (0.19 [IQR 0.09, 0.46]; P=0.01; Figure 3B). This evidence concerns the gene HAMP and parasitic infectious disease.